Oct 23 2008
Teaching: No Greater Call
Today I was able to chat for a few minutes with Andrew’s teacher from last year, Mrs. Westerman. Mrs. Westerman is an absolutely fabulous teacher and was extremely instrumental in helping us get Andrew a diagnosis. She is the epitome of patience and kindness. While I am sad that Cameron doesn’t have her for kindergarten, I am so thrilled for her family that they added a second adorable baby boy to their family this past summer. Mrs. Westerman is subbing for a few weeks for another teacher that just had a baby and I am sure her students are so excited to have her there. Beyond Tiscia being a superb teacher, she is also a wonderful friend. She is the sweetest person and I am glad to count her among my friends.
After coming home from the kids’ school today where I was helping in Cameron’s classroom and then visited with Tiscia, I was reading a book entitled School Success for Kids with Asperger’s Syndrome. It is a bit of a heavy read but is very informative. There are many strategies in it that I can apply at home with Andrew. It amazes me every time I read a book about AS how the “symptoms” of AS fit Andrew to a T. There are so many different facets to AS and most people aren’t even aware of them. It truly affects every aspect of Andrew’s life. But it is also what makes Andrew who he is and I love who he is. Mrs. Westerman did a wonderful job of learning about Asperger’s and trying different coping strategies with Andrew. The school did a training about Asperger’s over the summer and Andrew’s current teacher said that it was extremely helpful to her and she has been employing techniques she learned and has had success.
I am so thankful to have wonderful teachers such as Mrs. Westerman who love their students and have never-ending patience. I know Andrew would not be having the success in school that he is having if it weren’t for the foundation laid by Tiscia last year. Teaching is the greatest profession in the world. Teachers are grossly underpaid and often underappreciated. Teaching requires so much time, effort, and sacrifice. Thank you, Mrs. Westerman and all the other awesome teachers out there. It’s a labor of love and I am so thankful for the instrumental role that teachers play in my children’s life.
Andrew and Mrs. Westerman
