Teachers

Last week was the first week of school for Howard County students, and, as my daughter, Melody, told me about all of her teachers, and what she liked about each one, I got to thinking about my wife, Teresa, who was a teacher in Howard County for almost 10 years, until her death in 2004.

Teresa was a great teacher.  I know this because she won awards for her abilities.  She also had a passion for teaching, and she cared about her students like no teacher I ever met.  My guess is most teachers are great teachers, and all deserve awards for doing something that I think takes a lot of dedication and hard work.  I'll bet every one of us can remember at least a few of our teachers, since they have such an impact on their students.  I can still remember and name all of my elementary school teachers, and I remember most of my junior and senior high school teachers.  But not one of them had an impact on me like Teresa did on her students.

Teresa taught 9th grade English & Reading, and Public Speaking, at both Mt. Hebron High School, in Ellicott City, and, when it opened, Reservoir High School, in Fulton.  She also coached the Speech and Debate teams.  Every few years, I get an email message or card in the mail from one of her former students, and they always mention Teresa ("Miss Shirlen" or Mrs. Freed, depending on when they had her) as the one teacher who had the most influence and impact on them.  It's pretty awesome.

When Teresa died, the students and faculty at both schools provided so much support to me and and my family, and I appreciate that so much.  There continues to be a scholarship award given out each year at Reservoir High School in her name, the Teresa Shirlen Freed Spirit Award.  The students also started a college fund for my daughter, who was five months old at the time of Teresa's death, and those funds were placed in a College 529 program for her.

Here are a few of the kind words I've received by some of her former students, and parents of her former students, since her death:

Mrs. Freed was one of my favorite teachers, and I feel very honored to have been one of her students. The memories I have of her and her class are very special to me, and I appreciate all the honesty and encouragement she gave to me. Thank you for sharing her with us...

Though I never had Teresa for a teacher, I remember her quite well. Always had a smile on her face... and was always willing to let me wash her chalkboards... not that I wanted to, had to, or did...

Teresa Freed was someone who touched our daughter's life. She took Brittany under her wing and helped her grow academically but, more importantly, helped her believe in herself. Our family credits Mrs. Freed with encouraging Brittany to continue writing and take risks. Brittany decided on a journalism career because of the encouragement Mrs. Freed gave her...

Mrs. Freed was my teacher and my friend. I'll always have her in my heart and in my prayers. I'll never forget the quiz song or her love of To Kill a Mockingbird... I don't think I could :)...

My daughter started as a Freshman at Reservoir last year. At the beginning of the year, my daughter came home from school one day and told me about a teacher who had stopped her in the hallway and introduced herself. The teacher said, "Hi. My name is Mrs. Freed. What's yours? I'm a 9th grade English teacher here, and every time I pass you in the hall way, you're always smiling. I just wanted to stop you and introduce myself." From that time on, they greeted each other as friends by their names when they passed in the hall. She blessed both Sarah and I that day. By making Sarah feel special, she touched my heart in a way that only a mother would understand...

Among the teachers who have deeply affected my life the most, Mrs. Freed would be, without a doubt, one of the first. I met her in ninth grade when I wanted to join the Speech and Debate Team at Mt. Hebron High School. I was so shy then. But with her encouragement, talent, and enthusiasm, she transformed me into a person with inner confidence and strength. She made me proud and appreciative of who I was and whatever I had to say. She supported me all through high school, and when I graduated, I loved her not only as a teacher but as a true friend.  I only went back to see her once since I left for college. I wish it could have been more now. But to this day, I think of her, especially whenever giving a speech or presentation. (S)he was a teacher who impacted so many lives. I feel utterly blessed to have been one of them...

Mrs. Freed helped me to discover what it was that I truly wanted to do with my life, and I will forever be in her debt. She is, without a doubt, one of the best English teachers I have ever had, and I am truly grateful that I had the chance to know her. I still remember when she was Ms. Shirlen, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know her...

I had only one year in Mrs Freed's classroom, but I remember how she always gave freely of her effort and her compassion to help her students. It was her encouragement that pushed me to publish a piece of writing in a statewide anthology of students' work. Not only did she help me to submit my writing, but she stood in line for over an hour to be there with me at the reception for the anthology's publication. In the short year that I spent with her, I was touched by her genuine caring for everyone she met. I will always be grateful to have known her...

As a student who had Mrs. Freed (then Ms. Shirlen) as a sophomore at Mt. Hebron I know firsthand what a special teacher she was. I remember coming home and sharing with my parents after my first week of having her for English what an outstanding teacher she was. I told my parents how much I liked her, her teaching style, and her warm approach. Having graduated college last May and now working as a reporter in Howard County, I never forget those who helped me along the way to develop my writing and journalism skills. She was a teacher who taught me more than just English and writing.She taught all those around her to smile everyday and to love life. I will remember her for not only what she taught me but the presence she had in and out of the classroom. She had a way about her that allowed her to connect with students. I will always remember her as a teacher who touched every student she taught in some way or another, always challenging them to be a better person and student...please know that as a student who sat in her classroom she will always be remembered. She was the best kind of teacher, the kind a student can never forget...

We met only briefly in the office a few times, yet she touched my life in a special way that I'll always treasure. She took the time to say thank you for all you do for the kids and staff. She had a million things going on at the time yet she took the time for me.  She was one of those special teachers who make a difference in kids lives. She left her mark on everyone at Reservoir and will be greatly missed...

Mrs. Freed plays a role in so many of my most treasured memories of Mount Hebron. Freshman year English was, by far, the most influential class I have ever taken. I learned to love Shakespeare, conquer public speaking with my personal narrative, and tap my potential as a writer. I loved Mrs. Freed's teaching so much that I enrolled in her speech class junior year and, with her undying encouragement and faith in me, competed in speech and debate tournaments. I will never forget all of those Saturdays spent sitting in suits and chatting about everything from speaking techniques to our mutual love of doing our own manicures. Even after Mrs. Freed went to Reservoir, she remained one of the most influential people in my life. I will be eternally indebted for the college letter of recommendation. I am positive that Mrs. Freed's letter helped me to gain admission and a scholarship to my dream school. I wouldn't be here today pursuing a degree in journalism without Mrs. Freed's encouragement to write and speak with confidence...


Amazing stuff.

Just yesterday, as I went to get the mail out of our box, I found an envelope from Reservoir High School, enclosed in which was a letter from one of my wife's former students.  The letter read, in part:

Mrs. Freed was my 9th grade English teacher in 1998 and my speech teacher in 2000.  She was one of the most important teachers I had, who was able to make me a better writer and public speaker.  She had quite an impact on me, in ways that I am more aware of now that I teach and write full-time. 

Enclosed with the letter was a check for a significant amount for my daughter's college fund.  I nearly broke down upon reading this letter.  It is one of the most generous things anyone has ever done for me and my family.  The heart of this young man is incredibly huge, and he has my heartfelt appreciation for his kindness.

And, once again, all I can think of is the impact a teacher had on this former student as he went through his education process, and here we are, fifteen years later, and he is still thinking about and showing his appreciation to that former teacher's family.

My point in sharing this was not to show off the accomplishments of one teacher, who also happened to be my wife, but to tell you about the impact every teacher must have on their students; teachers who helped mold every one of us into the people we are today, who inspired and assisted in pushing us into the careers many of us have, many of which pay much more than a teacher will ever make.  Our teachers really are the true heroes.

Thank you, Mrs. Trammell, Mrs. Stancliff, Mrs. O'Toole, Ms. Park, Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Elder, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Wood, Mrs. LaRue, Mrs. Gorol, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Krocheski, Mr. Reed, Ms. Keeny, Mrs. Thayer, Mr. Cowan, Mrs. Forrest, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Vann, Mr. Puryear, Mr. Zahn, Mrs. Werhle, Mrs. Roper, Mr. Lopez, and several more I'm forgetting, at Melwood Elementary, James Madison Junior High, and Frederick Douglass High Schools, all in Upper Marlboro, MD.  Thank you for teaching and inspiring me.

Have a great evening, everyone!