To kick off the Campaign for the Common Good, and celebrate the teachers who rock, we're inviting people of all ages to share a story about a teacher who changed their life.
To read about teachers who have made a difference for someone in your area, click the icons on the map below. Below the map, you can also browse all the stories.
Miss Griffith was the most influential teacher I had in high school. Where every other teacher gave me As all the time (no question), Miss Griffith gave me a D on my first paper. She was incredibly smart and had formerly taught college-level. She came to our high school and helped me… Read More »
Mrs. Waterson was a reading teacher in a school where I was the principal. She had a loving, gentle nature and was always positive with children. In the years I worked with her, I never heard her raise her voice to a child or even need to! I never heard her utter… Read More »
As a senior in college I have had many teachers throughout the years that have inspired and mentored me. In my teen years, I began a path of self destruction and nearly dropped out of high school. I did really receive any support or direction from my family and was living on… Read More »
This goes out to Andrea Khoobiar--affectionately known as "Khoob"--my French teacher at Kinnelon High School. When I was 15, she encouraged me to spend a summer in France as an exchange student. The experience of traveling to a foreign country all by myself at such a young age changed me forever. Je… Read More »
Mr. Tinlin first come into my life when I was in the fifth grade. I am now in my junior year at college. He continues to support me today. He is always giving me encouragement and is always pushing me to do my best. He has truly touched my life and changed… Read More »
The title represents the usual warm up Mr. Harper would have us do at each rehearsal. John C. Harper was the chorus director at Penn Yan Academy during the mid-1950's through the mid-1970's. He and music were the most important aspects of my high-school years. He led the select chorus, Varitones, and… Read More »
I am now becoming a teacher/school psychologist and believe I can do anything I aspire for because of Ms. Warner, my high school government/history teacher. You inspired me to be great and I loved you so much. Thank you. Read More »
Mrs. Murphy is a wonderful, excellent, awesome 5th grade teacher. She is sweet and very kind. Most kids will think this sounds weird but, I LOVE all the work that she gives us to do. Sometimes we get to use Hersey's kisses, gold-fish crackers or cereal to help us understand math problems.… Read More »
Gwen Tulloss was my 8th grade Algebra teacher. She would often remind me that if I wanted an "A", I would need to put in much study time because "excellence is seldom easy". I now encourage and motivate my students with this same quote. Read More »
Up through 6th grade my daughter was a victim of the "girls cannot do math" attitude. She even wrote that math was a "sleeping orgre you tip-toed around so as not to awaken". In 7th grade she had a woman math teacher whose approach was very hands-on, with lots of manipulative activities.… Read More »