Ms. Mitchell,
I am going to
try and put into words just how grateful we are for you. Johnathon has always
had some issues. Crying, hitting, throwing things, talking back, and I could go
on and on. We have known there were issues but maybe we didn’t want to accept
it, I don’t really know why we took so long to figure it out.
At Johnathon’s
last school he was always in trouble. If a child talked it was always blamed on
him. At recess, a child would hit him and he would push back yet he was the
only one to get in trouble as the teachers only saw him push. When 10 kids were
walking the hall talking loudly Johnathon was the only one to get into trouble.
When 3 kids did not do their class work, Johnathon was the one who got sent
out. At recess he got in trouble for throwing a ball because another child
broke a rule and he tried to tell.
Johnathon was
labeled and it affected him so poorly that I cried because I was scared he was
going to fail at school. He hated going to school, he didn’t care about doing
what he was supposed and he quit trying to better himself because he didn’t see
a point. He talked about dropping out of school. He spent at least 1 time a
week in the office getting yelled at by the principal because he didn’t know
how to express his anger yet no one was willing to help him. I spent nights
crying myself to sleep because I was scared for him and his future. Things got
a little better but it took me being at the school every day to police him and
the teachers. It is pretty sad that I
could only stay 7 hrs in the hospital after having a baby just so I
could be at his school the next day to ensure he wasn’t being labeled but I did
it.
When we moved
here I was scared. I knew it would be a big change for him and I was scared
that things would be the same. I will never forget the day he had a meltdown in
the lunchroom and your response. I knew that moment that you were going to be
someone special. Johnathon thrived in your care. His attitude, his demeanor and
everything about him blossomed. He started to love school and trust you and
others. He still has him moments and always will but we have seen parts of
Johnathon that we have not seen since he was 2. That loving boy that he is at
home, he started being at school. His work improved and he was able to improve
on his relationship with others.
I know you
spend a lot of time trying to help him and others and I am forever grateful for
that. You helped me get my little boy back and for the first time in years I didn’t
dread him going to school. I didn’t cringe every time the phone rang wondering
what he did wrong. I can drive more than 30 min away while he is in school and
not fear having to come back because he did something wrong.
I wish more
teachers were like you. I do. You are amazing and wonderful and because of you
my son has a brighter future.
I am scared for next year but I am confident that he will succeed because of all he has learned while in your care.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Heidi Berard
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