I got a call from Gustavo today. "Is this Leon Scott Baxter?" he asked. I asked him, "Gustavo who?" He told me his last name. "Where would I know you from?"
It turned out Gustavo was in my first class 25 years ago when he was a third grader.
I ask my students to write letters to themselves and I hold them until they turn 18. Then, I send them their letters along with a letter from me.
Gustavo, now 32, had just moved to a new home with his family. When unpacking boxes he found the letter to himself as well as my letter. He shared them both with his 14-year old daughter and she asked, "Do you think your teacher is still alive?"
"Probably," answered Gustavo. "You should call him (I had included my number in the letter)." And, lo and behold, I answered. There we were talking about 3rd grade from the late 1990s.
These past two years have been tough on teachers with online class and learning loss. A call like I got today, was just what the doctor ordered. I made a difference in the life of this person, and I'm still somewhere in his memory a quarter century later.
#WeGotThis
#AprilRAOK
It turned out Gustavo was in my first class 25 years ago when he was a third grader.
I ask my students to write letters to themselves and I hold them until they turn 18. Then, I send them their letters along with a letter from me.
Gustavo, now 32, had just moved to a new home with his family. When unpacking boxes he found the letter to himself as well as my letter. He shared them both with his 14-year old daughter and she asked, "Do you think your teacher is still alive?"
"Probably," answered Gustavo. "You should call him (I had included my number in the letter)." And, lo and behold, I answered. There we were talking about 3rd grade from the late 1990s.
These past two years have been tough on teachers with online class and learning loss. A call like I got today, was just what the doctor ordered. I made a difference in the life of this person, and I'm still somewhere in his memory a quarter century later.
#WeGotThis
#AprilRAOK
494 Reads
- Posted by lewski711
- May 27, 2022
- Comments (8)
Readers Comments
Balou wrote: What a beautiful story! And with that letter you not only affected him but his daughter as well ... well, and yourself 😉 ... and I can imagine that he'll (maybe she as well) share this story with his friends ....
pluto178 wrote: How lovely x
Mish wrote: This is so wonderfully wild, Lewski!!!!! You are the best of the best teachers â¤ï¸
gardengal10 wrote: I still remember most of my teachers. From what you've written about your classes, of course your students remember you...and fondly, I am certain.
mindyjourney wrote: How wonderful that you received a nice appreciation after all these years! Thank YOU for your continued positive impact. 😊
Annc wrote: You are truly making a difference in the lives of so many!
Rajni wrote: Sending your students their letters along with a letter from you Mr. Lewski is like sawing a seed of kindness in your student's hearts. You dearly deserved the phone call from your students. He is not an Ex-student, he is still learning from a great teacher like you.
DANCE wrote: I love this story, you are wonderful, and so was your student!!!!
