As North East ISD teachers clean out their classrooms and wrap up the 2019-2020 school year, they’re more focused than ever about the things that called them to this profession in the first place: the relationships they forge with their students.
So we are taking a moment to let them reflect on what they found during this lost time.
“Going up there to clean out all of their cubbies and pack up their belongings was extremely hard,” said Lesley Miles. “We had papers already copied to do with them, and the agenda was written and ready to go for after spring break, everything was just as a standstill.”
Miles is a third-grade teacher at Longs Creek Elementary School. When it came time to clean out her classroom for the summer, she realized that so many memories didn’t get to be made.
“We wouldn’t get to do our science day, field day, the game show that our PTA was planning, or have our interactive Harry Potter watch party,” said Miles. “We won’t get to share and experience any of these things that make memories that last forever. It’s not fair to them.”
But amid that sad realization, Miles was flooded with great memories made earlier in the year.
“Our ‘read alouds’ that we did every day, were probably our favorite part of the day,” said Miles. “We also loved ‘Tell Me Something Good Tuesdays,’ and yes, we did sing ‘Tell me something good’ every time.”
While it is easy to focus on the memories that didn’t get made late in the year, Miles knows so many lasting memories were made before campuses closed, and she wants to remind her students how important they are to her.
“Even though we weren’t physically together for the last two and a half months doesn’t mean we weren’t there for each other. It doesn’t mean that I forgot about you or love you any less. It actually means that I love you more, I miss you more, and I will never forget this time we went through together,” said Miles. “You will always hold a special place in my heart, and when I finally get to see you again, those hugs will mean that much more.”
So here’s to the hugs and the memories that will be made when we are all back together again soon. Lesley Miles is just one of the teachers showing how #NEISDcares.
