We brought a little boy to you six years ago, and are leaving with a little man at the end of this month.

As (high school) teachers ourselves, I thought we would find an automatic camaraderie. But somewhere between the state tests, the fun days, the projects, the parties, and the field trips— I began to wonder: How do you do this every day? How do you do all that you do for the whole class?

I want you to know this:

You made him confident. You made him excited. You saw his unique gifts and helped him play them up. You knew he talked too much and you continually moved his seat 😂. You tolerated our overzealous questions at parent conferences (I always felt nervous and talked too much). And, above all, you saw him. Like really saw him.
You saw what we see.

How did you know how to be just the teacher he needed at just the right time? How did you get him interested in a new topic each week?

The answer is easy: Because you were made for this. You saw what he needed, what they all needed—and helped him to do it himself. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year.

As a teacher, just like as a parent, there are a million ways you can be a good one. Parker got six different teachers who were good for him in six different ways. Thank you, for six years of showing Parker so many ways he can grow, so many ways he can be himself. I thought we had that part covered- being teachers and all- but he didn’t want it from us. He needed it from you.

Aside from your work with our son, you have also given us a deep(er) respect for the profession. Thank you for bringing your best self to the classroom each day and for making our dinner table conversations and our minivan chats that much more vibrant and exciting.

We are humbled by your work, appreciative of your love, and inspired by your dedication.

We also know thank you is not enough, but it’s all we have. As teachers, we also know notes of genuine appreciation are sometimes all that keeps you going.

Thank you for teaching and reaching our son and so many others,

With love,
Mike and Bridgette Gallagher