Thank You Teacher

As a child I loved school, let me rephrase this, I adored school.

I looked forward to each and every day knowing it was a place that would welcome me with open arms, Always. It wasn't just that school was a fun place to be or that I got to spend time with my friends.

It was that school was my safe place. My teachers were my safe place. 

No matter what the day, I could always depend on my teachers to be the same. They always had the same personality each day, same expectation, and the same level of respect for their students. They were stable. 

I realize now that I depended on this. I depended on this daily stability as there were many times in my own home where I did not find this. The older I became the less I could depend on my household being a place that made me feel safe. Going to school, many days was a relief. I knew school meant I could escape any toxicity in my own household. When I left those school doors, I was a student who seemed to have it all together, but there was a lacking many times in my young life. A lacking of feeling enough. I realize now I wasn't able to express this then or possibly understand my own situation at the time, but I just knew when I went to school I felt happy. I didn't have to walk on glass. I came away with a feeling that I mattered. 

It was my teachers who made sure daily I felt safe. 

It was my teachers who made sure my voice was heard. 

It was my teachers who made me want to shoot higher in life than I thought I could score. 

Their voices were the ones who made me know I mattered and I would achieve my best if I put in my best efforts.

So today I need to say thank you. Thank you to all my teachers who...

Consistently came to school with the same personality. Each day you made sure you were the same person I saw from the day before. This is no easy feat as I know your life was not the same every day nor were we students, but you did it. You did it because it gave us stability. We could walk into your classroom feeling respected. 

Came to an after school event. Many of you came to my birthday parties, brought me to lunch on a Saturday, or came to a milestone event. Seeing you after school made a huge difference in how I saw myself. I was not just a number in your book, but a person. I realized you truly cared about me and who I was as a person. Thank you to my 3rd grade teacher for surprising me at my graduation. Today I get to repay you by going to your retirement party.

Told me I could do better and showed me how to improve. Many of you saw at different times in my life, my grades slip. I always did well in school, but there were changes in my life that took place and my grades suffered. I remember at this time a few of you pulled me aside to find out what was going on and how you could help. Three of you including one college professor took the time to know me and see I could do better, that I could BE better. You took the time to help me get back on track. These simple acts, these simple conversations changed the directory of my life.

Elevated my voice. Many of you helped me discover my voice through the power of writing. I appreciate you telling me I could get my voice out in the world through the use of paper and pen. Later through the computer. You saw something in my poetry, short stories, and writing that made me know I could share my voice with the world, even if I could not share my voice with those who seemed closest to me.

Took the time to write me a letter. I remember every letter I got from ALL of you. I received a handful during those 13 years, but the ones I received I read multiple times. It was like getting gold. I especially remember my 8th grade teacher who gave me two superlatives that I still remember and try to live out. This meant the world to be thought of in this light.To this day I do this for my own students because it meant so much. Thank you Teachers for taking the time to put your hand to the pen. Always encouraging and restating your belief that I was valued by you and the school.  

Thank you teachers for all you did for me. 

Thank you for what you continue to do for students each day. 

You make a huge difference in the lives of your students, you definitely made a lasting impact on mine.

Today I could not be more proud to be called an educator. This is year 14 for me and I'm almost half way through my teaching career. I see such an importance in what we educators do each day. We have the power to see students, to really see them and help them see themselves. We have the gift to let students know they can impact those around them and that their lives make a difference.

May I continue to help students see they are important just as they are, as so many teachers did for me years ago. 

That I can offer them the support they need at the different times of their life. 

That I can be a safe place they can go to when their home stability is rocked.

That I may be a blessing to ANY student who crosses my path, letting them know they are Loved, Cared about, and that they Matter, every day.

Alana Stanton is a kindergarten and technology specials teacher at Mulberry Elementary in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She has taught several grades over her 14 year career including K-3 literacy special, first grade, second grade, and kindergarten. Alana believes that relationships always come first in the classroom and the classroom should be a place where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. She currently writes for her blog, More Than A Lesson where she shares the stories of her classroom and her heart.
Twitter: @stantonalana