This is an open letter for Teacher Appreciation Week to
the teachers of Mapleton Elementary School, especially Lauren High, Sue
Litzinger, and Bo Miller:
As my son Noah nears the end of his tenure at Mapleton
Elementary, I want to offer you my heartfelt thanks. He has had a very
successful elementary career and that is due to the many wonderful teachers who
have worked with him including Jane Lowry, Glenna Whitaker, Charity Holley,
Toni Constable, and Marlowe Steger as well as so many others I’m afraid to
begin naming for fear I will leave someone out.
This academic year has been marked by the many upheavals
that have faced our school district. I appreciate your outstanding efforts to
rise above these challenges and to always put your students first. Teaching is
never an easy job, but I know this has been a very difficult year to be a
teacher in this school district and especially at Mapleton Elementary. However,
you have risen above these difficulties to perform with grace under extreme
pressure.
Many administrative decisions made this year have led
parents to question if anyone on the school board or involved in district
administration is thinking about the good of our children. The constant program
changes appear designed to undermine any potential for student success. Similarly,
there has been much administrative posturing which has called into question the
dedication and professionalism of Montgomery County teachers. However, the one
beacon of light in Montgomery County Schools throughout this year of upheaval
has been the teachers. They have consistently persevered through increasingly
difficult working conditions to teach and to serve.
I am so thankful that Noah landed in Lauren High’s class
this year. Despite numerous roadblocks and increasingly adverse teaching
conditions, she met each new challenge and found ways to re-engage students
bewildered by the losses and changes. She consistently presented an upbeat and
positive face for her students and their parents while working long hours to
redesign curriculum and create lessons to address changing circumstances. When
the fifth-grade program was drastically revamped in January, Noah transformed
from a child who enjoyed school to one who dreaded it. However, Mrs. High
successfully brought her class through the transition to conclude the year on a
high note. I only hope the administration appreciates her talent and effort.
I also want to express my thanks to Sue Litziner and Bo
Miller who both inspired Noah to learn more and be more. While we still mourn
the loss of their classes, I know that the impact they had on Noah’s drive to
learn, question, and respond to challenges will help him learn and grow for
decades to come. The critical thinking and investigative skills they taught him
are far more important lessons than any amount of test preparation. They are
both talented and inspirational teachers who have had a tremendous impact on
Noah as well as countless other students.
Last, but not least, Academic Team coaches Sue Litzinger,
Breanne Harmon, Catherine Rush, and Joy Larrison devoted so much time and
energy to helping their teams grow as people as well as students and
competitors. Noah’s time working with Sue Litzinger and Breanne Harmon was
always a high point of his week.
It is very comforting to me that in a district led by
“educators” more focused on self-promotion and personal agendas we still have
teachers focused on their students and their teaching.
Thank you again for all that you do in such trying times,
Deanna Mascle, Mapleton parent
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