Tell us about The Teacher Who Changed My Life – and why.

Her name was Ms Turner. She taught me in the third grade. She pitched softball to us at recess which is why I first liked her. But she made a difference because she pushed me to be better. I was a little ahead of the rest of my class in math so she got more advanced books for me to work from and she took the time to move me along. When I hit a line drive back at her one day, the ball broke her finger when she tried to catch it. That afternoon she made me do extra math problems. It didn’t seem like punishment, it seemed like she cared and it made me work harder.

She ended up teaching in the Atlanta public schools for 40 years. When I was in my 30′s I looked her up, and she told me that I was always her favorite student. I am guessing I am not the only one she said that to. She knew how to make you feel special.