National Teacher Appreciation Week

This week, May 2nd through May 6th, is National Teacher Appreciation Week.

In honor of this important week, several DFLers are sharing how teachers changed their lives.

From MN House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL - District 63A):

Today I honor my favorite teacher, Mrs. Stickles. In 5th grade, she opened whole new worlds to me. Not only did she teach me core subjects like math and reading, but she was also my music teacher. She encouraged me to pursue my interest in music and connected me with people outside of school to learn to play the piano and sing.  

The greatest gift she gave me, though, was a love and passion for reading. Mrs. Stickles loved to read and she shared that love with her students, inspiring us to enjoy the great stories the world of fiction opens to us. I still love to read.  

Thank you, Mrs. Stickles, for giving me the best gifts a teacher can give to students – inspiration to try new things and read great books. 

From State Representative Mindy Greiling (DFL - Roseville):

I decided in third grade that I wanted to be an elementary teacher due to my master teacher, Miss Bungarten. She was very strict, extremely organized and fair. Miss Bungarten made learning challenging and fun. I loved that she read us many books about a wide range of interesting things.  

After attending school I decided to teach. I taught third and fourth grade for five years and modeled her methods. I tried to be a teacher as much like her as I could.

 From State Representative Sandra Peterson (DFL - District 45A):

Mrs. Larson was my favorite teacher. She was my teacher for 3 years in the country school I attended until 6th grade. Her enthusiasm for teaching was evident. She made a connection with each of her students and encouraged their strengths and interests. I became her “assistant” and mentored younger children in reading and math. I also became the school librarian. In addition, she would give me her discarded dresses, skirts and sweaters. My family had limited resources for clothing and I was overjoyed at having these beautiful additions to my wardrobe. I will always remember her generosity and the joy those gifts brought to my young life. Finally, she often encouraged me to become a teacher and I am sure that her guidance was responsible for my choice of teaching as a career. For that, I will always be grateful.