The Teacher that Makes a Difference

A Strong, Kind, and Committed teacher makes a difference in the life of a struggling child.

“Many years ago, when I was teaching at Head Start, there was a child in my classroom that had a very troubled home life.  I recognized this and made sure I gave her what she needed while in my care, (or I at least tried).  Of course, I did this with all my students, but this child was different; she needed just a little bit more.  She was being placed in a foster home and was terrified.  I was the one constant person in her life that was not changing, I was her security.  I met her when she got off the bus; she stood next to me until I went inside; she sat by me at circle time and at lunchtime, whenever she needed me. I was the one who assisted her in the restroom; I actually potty-trained her.

Before she was removed from her home, I would join her in the bathroom, and we would wash her face and hands and brush her hair.  This she loved; I taught her these skills and eventually she didn’t need me to assist her every time.  She was starting to increase her independence, plus I wanted her to be able to do these things on her own, so on the weekends when I wasn’t with her, she could take care of her needs on her own.  If another child came into the restroom, I would also offer to do the same with them, so she didn’t feel singled out.  I really took this child under my wing and gave her affection and love when she needed it. Some of my coworkers worried that I was spoiling her.  Over and over, I explained to them, no, that is not what I am doing, I am caring for this child who needs me.

Here we are 20 years later, and this child is a grown woman who recently visited with my husband.  She still remembers me and told him what a difference I made in her life. Who even remembers their early years? She does.  She told him so many stories from those days about how I was there for her and never let her down. How she trusted me, and how I was her constant person. She explained to him that if it wasn’t for me, she wasn’t sure how those few years would have gone for her.  I was her safe person. What a great feeling it was when I found out that she remembered me from all those years ago.”

Susan’s story is a great example of the Teacher that Makes a Difference. We use this phrase in Tier 1 of the COSP Classroom approach, as a way to introduce participants to evidence from more than a dozen studies that a suggest a secure relationship with a teacher leads to improved outcomes in the classroom. We want to thank Susan for sharing her story, and we encourage others to celebrate teachers by sharing a story of a teacher who made a difference in their lives with the hashtag #TeacherThatMakesADifference.