Hello, My name is Ava Murray-Swank. I am a sophomore going on junior at Fairview High School. This week I received news that my favorite teacher Ms. Smith was not offered a position next year. I know I may not be able to make a change, and the district is struggling with student loss, teacher transfers, and intense district challenges, however I will do my best to create change to keep Ms. Smith. Not only is she an incredible teacher, she has also made a major impact in so many students lives, she is dedicated to checking in on mental health, and has formed individual relationships with all of her students and truly cares.

I would like to share my personal experiences with how Ms. Smith has impacted my life. In the beginning of my year, I began in another class, however, I soon transitioned into her class due to difficulties with my previous class. As the year progressed, I began to realize how great of a teacher she is. At the beginning of every class, she gave opportunities for students to share how they have been, how stress is impacting them, and if anyone needed any help. She assured all students that she was always there as a support system for any student in need. She had us write goals for the year, private check-ins to share if support was needed, and offered extensions and opportunities for late work for students struggling with their own challenges. On block days, she began class having students draw various prompts and share what they created. After that, she proceeded to hang all the students' artwork on her walls creating a space where students could feel appreciated and heard. 

Not only was she a key support system for many students, she was academically accepting and extremely organized. I personally struggle with various academic challenges, and severe testing anxiety that makes testing very difficult for me, even though I may complete all work to the  best of my ability, tests have been a challenge for me. She created a class environment filled with various assignments that truly supported all different forms of learning. Some assignments were hands on, some auditory, and some visual. This guaranteed an environment for kids struggling with learning difficulties to excel. She created all of her own slides, and gave time to prepare thoroughly for tests. The tests in her class were weighted less than in many of my other classes, and the class was very project oriented making success the responsibility of the student and teacher. All of her classes are filled with rigorous academics in many forms, and project based learning preparing students to 

As the year progressed, I built a strong relationship with Ms. Smith, and she was a very important support system for me. Dealing with many mental health challenges, and other challenges after being displaced from the fire, she made sure to check in on me and notice if I was having an off day. This was not only to me, Ms. Smith aided many people and assured that students were prioritizing their mental health. As I began to put pressure on myself and rely on academic validation, Ms. Smith gave me a place to breathe and to complete my work. I began going to access time with her on Thursdays, to get away, and have a supported environment where I could study and just talk and laugh. She is such a kind and caring person who cares so much about every single student that walks into her class. 

Ms. Smith is dedicated to all of her classes and truly enjoys working at Fairview and all of her students, getting to know them on a personal level. She treats all of her students as equals, and shows her dedication to our school. She dresses up for all spirit weeks, and is very dedicated and invested in her Varsity basketball team. Even students who don’t have her as a teacher still visit her in her classes or during access time. 

I know my writing may not be able to make a difference, and the district is having many difficulties. However, I want to do my best and know I tried to make a difference for Ms. Smith as a thank you for the impact she has on my life, as well as many other students' lives. I know there may be nothing that can be done and I know there are contracts and priority of tenured teachers. However, I want to do everything I can to educate others on how phenomenal Ms. Smith is and how much she has impacted students at Fairview High School. This was her first year teaching at Fairview, and she is only 24 years old so she has so many more years to impact students' lives. I am so thankful I was in her class this year, and so impressed how incredible of a teacher she is being the age she is. Even if nothing can be done to keep her at Fairview I want to ensure that she can find another amazing school where she is appreciated and can impact just as many students' lives as she has this year. I want to do the best I can to make a difference and change even if it's not possible to keep her at Fairview, I want to ensure she is as happy as she has been this year.