One of the most influential teachers I have ever had

Lauren Gradowski, an AACPS: Former Student, Richard Henry Lee Elementary | Teacher, Northeast High School

Dear Mrs. Doane,

I’m not sure if you remember me; I know you have had hundreds of students over the years that you have been teaching, but you were my fifth grade teacher during the 2000-2001 school year. I had heard a few years ago that you were still teaching at Richard Henry Lee, and when I saw AACPS was doing this Thank-A-Gram project for Teacher Appreciation Week, I knew that I had to reach out to you.

I wanted you to know that you were one of the most influential teachers I have ever had. I remember so much about your class, everything from the first D I ever received on an assignment (I spent the rest of my academic career trying to atone for that one!) to you announcing George Bush Jr. as the winner of the 2000 Presidential Election after we had all waited days for the Florida recount. I will never forget sitting in your classroom and reading Where the Red Fern Grows as myself, and many others, sobbed our way through those final chapters, all of us passing the tissues around the room. It was the first book that ever made me cry. It has held a special place in my heart ever since.

I vividly remember coming with my mother to a parent-teacher conference in which you told her you expected great things of me. I don’t know how much it counts for, but I went on to major in English and music in college, then pursued a Master’s of Education. Even though I moved away toward the very end of my fifth grade year, through a series of bizarre turns, I actually found myself back in Anne Arundel County about five years ago, and now I am on track to finish my fourth year teaching English to at Northeast High School. I am so blessed to be pursuing this career path and I hope you know that you most certainly played a part in it!

I cannot believe it has been almost twenty years since I sat in your classroom with its open walls (what a horrid invention!) with a poster of numbers jumping into a pool that helped me remember that 7 x 8 = 56 (it’s the only way I can remember that equation now). My time at Richard Henry Lee was so important to my development, in retrospect. Your classroom was always a joy to be in. It was a place where I could be proud of my accomplishments, and more importantly, proud of myself. Thank you so much for that gift. I only hope that I can, in some small way, leave such an impact on my own students.

Thank you again for everything!