Appreciation.

Last week was our Stake's annual LHS Teacher Appreciation Dinner.

Senior youth (that's an oxymoron, isn't it?) are encouraged to participate by inviting an educator who has made a difference in their lives to a special dinner and tribute ceremony (I was in charge of the dinner for Lex's year - reminder here.)

This is only LHS's third graduating class (Lex was in the first), but our Stake has held this event for years, so Tay and Britt also participated in the past for CHS. (Taylor's guitar teacher, Mr. Moore, couldn't come back in 2007, so we didn't attend the dinner. Now the youth are encouraged to attend even if their teacher is unable to, and they still participate by reading their tribute. BTW, Mr. Moore now teaches at LHS and was in attendance at this dinner, nominated by 2 students. Clearly still a favorite.)

As we discussed over the past school year who Shilo might invite, she would say things like, "I've had some great teachers [in high school], but I don't necessarily feel like I was super connected to any in particular..." She figured she would probably just invite her Assistant Swim Coach, Coach Matherly. 

A month or two ago, we were on the topic of who-to-invite again, and I thought back to my high school days. I could maybe name 2 of my high school teachers without looking them up. I don't necessarily think any of them greatly influenced who I am today. (I most commonly tell my kids about my AP English teacher who suggested I NOT take the AP exam because it would probably be a "waste of time and money" for me to do so. I took the test anyway... and got a 5. I mostly remember her clear lack of confidence in me.)

I do, however, remember my jr. high choir teacher, Mrs. Schmidt (I've mentioned her before), and I can name each and every one of my elementary school teachers, and well remember how each of them made me feel.

Shilo had some really great elementary school teachers, but we both fondly recalled one in particular:
Miss Dodge.
She was Shilo's fresh-out-of-college-young-and-enthusiastic 3rd grade teacher. 

She has since been married (now Mrs. Valasquez), and is still teaching at FVE. We decided to check with the event organizers to make sure it would be okay to invite her, since only high school teachers have been invited in the past. Once the approval was given, Shilo took the invitation over on a Friday after school. Mrs. Valasquez had already left for the day, so she put the invite, along with a note, on her desk and anxiously awaited a response ("Maybe she won't remember me...").

Mrs. Valasquez responded Monday. Of course she remembered Shilo, she was honored to be invited and would definitely attend. YAY!

Shilo's tribute:

"Mrs. Valasquez has had a great impact on my life. Although it has been nine years since I had her as my teacher, her impression on me has been lasting. Even at my young age I could tell that she had a real interest in helping each of her students feel capable and confident in school. Even as a third grader, I knew that she had a personal interest in helping me grow and learn. She was very kind and sweet, and she always looked for praiseworthy things in each student and acknowledged those things. I've had a lot of great teachers through my twelve years in school at Frontier Valley, Cimarron, and Legend High School, but I appreciate the foundation she laid out for my future years in school. She helped me believe that I could accomplish anything if I put my heart into it. She strived to help each of her students see the potential they could achieve. I just want to thank you Mrs. Valasquez, a.k.a. Miss Dodge, for being a blessing in my life."

It was so fun chatting with Mrs. Valasquez and her husband during the dinner. She had been worried that Shilo wouldn't recognize her (of course Shilo recognized her!), but was so happy and honored to be there. I worried that the focus of most of the speakers was on LHS teachers specifically, but Carrie responded with, "I'm so glad to be able to represent elementary school teachers!"

It was an all-around feel-good evening.

Mrs. Valasquez asked Shilo to keep in touch

(we discovered that she lives only a couple streets over from us).

Shilo agreed.

Connected again.