Thank You, Betty!

Today is National Thank Your Mentor Day. In honor of such a great occasion, I would like to thank my mentor, Betty.

From the day that I first started teaching in Jacksonville, Betty VanGorder took me under her wing. She was an elderly lady who had taught for 30+ years and had transitioned into being the Standards Coach/Reading Recovery Teacher/Professional Development Facilitator. She truly wore a lot of hats, but the most important one was being my mentor.

As many of you know, my first two years of teaching in Massachusetts were a wreck. I was afraid to ask for help and I felt like I was like a slowly occurring avalanche just gathering more snow as the year went on. I felt suffocated by my work and knew that I wasn't helping my children. I moved to Jacksonville for a fresh start vowing to accept any and all help that was offered.

Betty knew that I had just moved to Jacksonville on my own. I didn't know anyone besides the people I worked with. She told me the day that I met her that it was her job to make me be successful. I believe that she took that job very seriously.

Betty checked on me EVERY day. Conveniently her office was right across the hall from my room. I never felt like she was in my face about anything, but instead felt as if she was a friend giving me the support I needed. When she wasn't asking me what she could help with, she was bringing snacks - mostly chocolate - and relieving stress by just coming to chat about life.

The wonderful thing about Betty was that she continued to mentor me even after I left that school three years later. She would talk to me through phone calls and emails and sometimes we would go out to lunch even after she retired.

Sadly, Betty passed away a few years ago. She truly was such an amazing person and I was so lucky to have her in my life.

Take today to thank your mentor. Most mentors go out of their way to help and they deserve to be thanked everyday!