OPINION: New Bedford mom appreciates and is grateful for, her son’s teachers through the pandemic

“I was hoping you could share something to your Facebook page. I want to thank my son’s teachers. It’s been a rough year and I want them to know they are appreciated. I would like to post ANONYMOUSLY!!”

“My son goes to RISE Academy at Pulaski [School]. Their behavior program and has really helped him over the years.

As I tucked my son into bed tonight, we finished talking about his day. Each day he tells me about what went well and what he needs to work on for the next day. Some days go well in others are quite a challenge for him. But the one thing that stays the same is the positive conversations that we have about his staff each and every day.

I haven’t even met half of these wonderful people, but I feel like they are family to me. I am constantly hearing how Mrs. Martins is so ‘super-duper nice’ and helps him to make safe choices. Or how Ms. E helps him stay calm even when works is so hard. I hear about walks with Miss Janeda and her dance parties at recess, how Ms. Kerr never forgets to say hello every morning, and how Mrs. Gagne makes learning so much fun.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, these staff members are a part of my family. They are in our car, our yard, the dinner table, and in our bedtime stories. I wish I had faces to put to all of your names. But for now, I will just say a sincere thank you to RISE academy. You have helped our family more than you know over the last couple of years. You never make me feel embarrassed or ashamed of my son’s behavioral problems. You have been a constant source of support for my family and we can’t thank you all enough.

Parents, as the school year comes to an end, don’t forget to thank your teachers. They definitely go above and beyond each and every day to give our kids a second home. Rise Academy is proof of this.”