Lessons from teachers

I wear a lot of hats - mother, project manager, village trustee. One that never fits quite right is an ad hoc teacher. When the world shut down in March, my children came home with concerns, but they also came home with hope. The youngest, Myra, who is 8, said with confidence, "My teacher said we will all be fine."

The way our teachers have adapted their roles to meet the needs of our children is one of the marvels of the pandemic. When we discuss budgets, or what education curriculums should entail, we can no longer ignore the intangibles. No longer do we dare overlook that which our teachers bring to their students, and now as a lesson to all of us, exceptional strength. The strength that helped my eldest carry into the summer months with a drive-by award ceremony staged by her favorite teachers who went the extra mile to make sure their kids felt supported and loved.

While their world continues into the uncertainty that plagued us all, the CUSD 2020 teachers have done what they do best: dedicate to the growth of our children. I asked Myra recently who she misses most at school. I was fully expecting the name of a lifelong friend but wasn't at all surprised when she said Ms. Murphy. To all the teachers, thank you. You have taught us - not just the young minds, but all of us - what a community is and should always be.

Sara Sadat

Lisle