This reader writes about the teachers who changed his life:
I had four CPS public school teachers to thank for recognizing and nurturing my strengths in English, writing and creativity, in 7th through 10th grades: Miss Fox, Mrs. Langdon, Miss Schwartz and Mrs. Gordon.
Until middle school, I did not think I had any academic strengths. In part, this was because, in 4th grade, when my mom remarried, I gained a step-father who frequently referred to me as “dumb”. He often said that, in his estimation, I was just too stupid to be able to excel at school. He turned out to be an example of how wrong non-educators can be about students and learning.
Thanks to these great CPS teachers, I developed confidence in my abilities, was inspired to broaden my interests, and I graduated with straight A’s from high school and summa cum laude from college. I will be forever indebted to them for rekindling my love of learning, because in spite of my achievements, my step-father never did change his views about my capabilities and always found a way to downplay my academic success. Thank goodness I learned at an opportune time in my development that his opinion didn’t matter as much as the professional judgments of those who are skilled in learning and teaching.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As in most urban school districts in our country today, CPS teachers are rarely, if ever, acknowledged for their successes with individual students, many of whom are at-risk for school failure not just due to poverty, but also because they have special needs, are English Language Learners, come from dysfunctional families, etc.
I have worked with a number of CPS teachers, as their mentor/coach, am familar with the many challenges they face, and I’ve found most to be competent professionals who are devoted to making a significant difference in their students’ lives.
Therefore, I salute CPS teachers, as well as teachers in other challenging school districts, and I thank you all for your hard work and commitment!
I am always humbled by the comments of individuals who appreciate and acknowledge the value of the teachers who have touched their lives. Each year students have thanked me for being there for them. Teaching is about more than curriculum. It is about understanding, empathy, and compassion. If a student has a positive relationship with a teacher it can change their life.
it’s what the learner does with the teachings, and for that learning to occur, there needs to be a relationship between the teachers and learners. if i’m teaching, the i’m also learning.
unlike consumer purchases that send instant feedback to the economic system, teaching results have a slow feedback loop (if at all). one never really knows the impact (positive or negative) unless someone takes the time to express it somewhere somehow. while i am always appreciateve of these acknowledgements, most of all i am appreciateve more that you took the ball, ran with it and scored goals (sorry for mixed metaphors here). while glad to hear that i made your day, life and path just a bit better, i am more glad about achievement and overcoming obstacles. keep in touch. cheers/ps
Wow! Thank you, Miss Schwartz!
Of the teachers that I mentioned, you actually impacted my life the most. At the time, I was primarily into writing, but I learned from you that, in order to improve one’s writing, one must read. At that point, I had not enjoyed reading and actually avoided it, and I was a rather rebellious adolescent… However, you were patient and inspiring… After exploring different genres and concepts with you, I discovered that there were many books I wanted to read, as well as many things in the world that I wanted to read about. Ever since, I’ve been interested in learning about virtually everything and my library has been my prized possession.
You also alerted me to my first two teaching jobs, working with preschoolers in Head Start and tutoring primary aged kids who were struggling readers. I had never planned to become a teacher, but that resulted in my 44 year long teaching career. (And, yes, I know what it’s like to have students return to touch base years later, too…!)
Thank you ever so much for appreciating my strengths, opening up the world to me (and me to it), and setting me on such an intrinsically rewarding path! Forever grateful (and sorry that I was not an easy kid)–
really glad to hear this story because you are keeping this kind of work going. are you also doing AFT work? if so, i have to say i’ve done lot of staff work (VSTA/VTF) as well as all kinds of collegial staff development. so much falls on deaf ears, but somehow, i keep going. i know there are so many systemic problems that need attention, but the most effective work is grass roots/on the ground level/ one person at a time. it’s about cultivating relationships for learning. sorry, i don’t remember the not-easy-kid; instead, someone eager to learn. also, kids are perceived as difficult, but really, they are protecting something integral, and teachers need to keep that self-protection intact. cheers/ps
Yes, relationship-based learning really is what it’s all about –which is apparent and stressed when teaching young children, but I don’t think that necessarily changes for older kids. It didn’t change for me when I was in high school. I was the kid who popped in uninvited at your apartment, because the relationship mattered to me. I recall also acting like it didn’t matter, as if I wasn’t supposed to care for adults by that age. You were very adept at reading teenagers and understanding the contradictions.
I should probably add that when I showed up at your place unannounced one day, I brought my girlfriend with me. While it was impolite of us to drop in on you like that, it was purely innocent, nothing sordid, and you were kind to us. Thanks!