Jamie and Mrs. Duggan

Jamie has been blessed with many completely wonderful teachers over the years. Learning to read was a challenge for him, but he worked very hard at it and was very fortunate to have an entire team of dedicated folks on his side... encouraging him every step of the way. One of those fabulous teachers was Mrs. Duggan, the school reading specialist. She and Jamie spent many hours together piecing together those constant blends and vowel sounds into words and then those words into stories. It wasn't easy, but Mrs. Duggan always made it fun and Jamie really looked forward to their time together. 

Jamie recently learned that Mrs. D. would be leaving the primary school and will instead teach in the high school. She was recognized and thanked at a school mass and Jamie was asked to write a speech to read following the mass to her to thank her for her years of teaching. 

This is Jamie holding his speech.

And this Jamie reenacting the delivery of his speech to honor one of his favorite teachers.

(He dressed for the occasion... he longed for a tuxedo, but made do with a dark suit and bow tie.)

He said that he was a little bit nervous but not at all scared, which Mrs. D. should count as a sign of personal success... the student who not long ago struggled to read, is now unafraid to stand in front of the entire school and confidently read aloud.

 A fourth grade student used the following quote in her own speech...
(I love it, so I am pirating it from her)
It definitely speaks to Mrs. Duggan.... 

 A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.  

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, translated from Turkish


Thank you Mrs. Duggan, for your hard work, dedication and your devotion to teaching Jamie to read. He will forever benefit from your efforts...now he feels like he has graduated from learning to read and is now reading to learn!