An Exemplary Educator
Harris and I were walking at our usual brisk pace towards home, with Harris eagerly awaiting dinner and me a trip to the drug store beforehand when a woman's voice called out as though she was addressing me.
"Excuse me," she said politely. "Are you new to the neighborhood?"
"Uh, No," I hesitantly replied. I have lived here for a little while now."
"Well," she began, "My name is Mary. I live nearby and have seen you around before. I am a teacher here in Arlington County, and this year I have three students, triplets who are blind. They are from Columbia, and live with their mother and grandmother, neither of whom speaks very good English, so it is hard to know what they need. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going out for coffee or something so we could talk for a while. I have a lot of questions and want to be sure that these students receive all of the special assistance they need to succeed."
The conversation continued, and I of course agreed to help her out. I can't think of too many teachers in my day that would have had the guts, or even the desire to walk up to a stranger and ask them for advice in order to ensure the success of their students, thus doing their job more effectively. She is in a tough situation with three five-year-olds who are obviously not aware of what they need, and parents with little to no English skills and most likely the same amount of knowledge of what is needed or even available for their children. It will be interesting getting to know her.
"Excuse me," she said politely. "Are you new to the neighborhood?"
"Uh, No," I hesitantly replied. I have lived here for a little while now."
"Well," she began, "My name is Mary. I live nearby and have seen you around before. I am a teacher here in Arlington County, and this year I have three students, triplets who are blind. They are from Columbia, and live with their mother and grandmother, neither of whom speaks very good English, so it is hard to know what they need. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going out for coffee or something so we could talk for a while. I have a lot of questions and want to be sure that these students receive all of the special assistance they need to succeed."
The conversation continued, and I of course agreed to help her out. I can't think of too many teachers in my day that would have had the guts, or even the desire to walk up to a stranger and ask them for advice in order to ensure the success of their students, thus doing their job more effectively. She is in a tough situation with three five-year-olds who are obviously not aware of what they need, and parents with little to no English skills and most likely the same amount of knowledge of what is needed or even available for their children. It will be interesting getting to know her.