Eleanor Skillen School 34

I am the grandmother/guardian of Halie, a kindergarten student at School 34. I'm sure letters and phone calls from upset parents/guardians expressing disappointment of a teacher happens all too often. People have no problem in taking time to complain about someone. Parents expect teachers to do their job not realizing what that means. Kids today are living with what they feel is a sense of entitlement and that sickens me. This is being taught to them by today s society. Teachers are expected to put up with more and more every year. This letter is to commend a teacher at School 34, Mrs. Carey Lee. She is my granddaughter Halie's kindergarten teacher. Over the past school year my granddaughter has suffered many family trials. Mrs. Lee has gone above and beyond her job as an educator for Halie through all of these times. She has held her in times of fear, cried with her in times of hurt, wiped her tears, sat her down and gave her hope for a better tomorrow. Never letting her problems or her adversities be an excuse for entitlement. I believe Mrs. Lee has laid a foundation of much more than beginning academics. The bond she has developed with Halie will truly be life long. If the standards Mrs. Lee has set were followed by all educators it could possibly put an end to this entitlement era of children. Halie is a bright young girl who struggled with her schoolwork coming into the 2008/9 school year. Mrs. Lee successfully provided a positive and patient learning program in her class. Frankly, Halie had problems keeping up early in the year. However, after a short time Mrs. Lee had her up to speed and exceeding my most optimistic expectations. 'Homework' changed from a frustrating battle to a joyful sharing of Halie's success. I am so proud of what Halie has learned in the past months at School 34, and I attribute a great deal of that to the skills and compassion shown by Mrs. Lee. Halie has a long way to go through elementary school, high school, and college. Mrs. Lee has helped provide Halie the confidence to know she is a bright child, and the curiosity to want to know more. I can't expect this kind of care and excellence from all of Halie's future teachers and professors, but Mrs. Lee has set a standard I will never forget.
--Submitted by a parent