I always saw that as such a gift, to be able to teach those kids and have them be a part of my life. And I loved the kids I taught, I truly loved them.
Brenda’s interview is a very special one for me. She was my 1st grade teacher, and we have somehow stayed in touch over the years. She was the most incredible elementary teacher I ever had, and that’s largely because of the way she made me feel. I detail in this interview just how big and important I felt as a member of her class, and I know she did the same for the other students she had in her 38 years of teaching. She genuinely loved all her students, and she made sure they knew it.
Brenda and her husband Tom wanted a family, but partially because of a paperwork mix-up were unable to have children of their own. She talks about processing and grieving that, not only once but several times. She was gracious in letting me share such a personal story, and also putting her through one more parent/teacher conference and asking all my questions. I had to take advantage of all her years of teaching experience. Brenda is a gem.
