Melissa Wirzburger

I am an AACPS: Parent, Davidsonville Elementary School

When my son started kindergarten I was worried because he hadn’t been away from me for more than an hour or two until that point. He was scared to leave me. I didn’t know anything about the teachers at Davidsonville Elementary school and didn’t realize how getting the letter saying Mrs. Leigh Jones would be his teacher would change his life. We met with her during the conference and explained our concerns. She said that she thought he would be fine. She was so kind and caring to him throughout kindergarten and he went from being afraid to go to school to loving school. He couldn’t wait to get up and go in the mornings. He LOVES her. When he moved up to first grade he was upset because he wouldn’t get to see her anymore. She told him to come visit her. He is now in second grade and still goes to visit her at least once a week. She has kept up with him and knows all about his life. When she found out he had started a program to collect books for babies in the AAMC NICU she donated his first book. She also donated his 100th book (and many others). He was so happy that she wanted to help him and his cause! She continues to encourage and support him even after 2 years. I’m not sure he would be so happy to get up and go to school every day if it wasn’t for her. He loves seeing her and loves school because of her! When I think of what a teacher should be she is what comes to mind–someone who encourages and helps her kids to learn and genuinely cares about them and how they are doing, not only when they are in her class but also throughout their lives.