Editor’s note: Well, we just missed Teacher Appreciation Week. This post, written by Teach for America Colorado corps member Abigail Schuman, sings the praises of the teacher who nurtured and inspired her this year. Abigail teaches at Mile High Learning in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood.
Starting my first year as a preschool teacher at Mile High Learning at Westwood, I expected lesson plans and learning curves.
I didn’t expect to find the kind of mentorship that would change not just how I teach but who I’m becoming. What I’ve learned this year is simple but powerful: Great teachers don’t do this work alone.
For me, that guiding force has been Haile, a fellow educator and mentor, whose presence in my first year has meant more than words can say. From the moment I walked through the doors of my school, Haile made sure I felt welcomed, included, and supported.
She is the kind of person who sees others fully and offers steady kindness without hesitation.
One of the most meaningful moments this year was simply being welcomed into the school by Haile. She was so kind, caring, and inclusive; it immediately made me feel like I had a place here. Without her, I would have walked in with all the right tools, but maybe not the confidence or calm to use them with ease. Haile helped me blend structure with joy, and that changed everything.
But Haile showed me another way. She modeled how to be a teacher who is strict yet empathetic, prepared yet playful. Watching her interact with students – joking with them, giving them space to explore and lead their own learning – transformed my approach. I’ve learned to loosen up, trust my students’ independence, and create a space where their passions can thrive.
Haile also taught me one of the most important lessons of all: it’s OK not to feel OK all the time. She showed me that it’s normal to need a moment to yourself, to pause and reset before returning stronger.
That permission to be human has made all the difference in how I show up for my students.
Beyond the emotional support, Haile’s mentorship has had a direct impact on my classroom. The engagement in my class and our routines fundamentally improved because of her guidance. My students benefit daily from the lessons she passed on to me. Her influence reaches beyond her own classroom and into mine, proof of how a single educator can shape a whole school.
To Haile, thank you; for going out of your way to make me feel supported, understood, welcomed, and like I had a true friend. You are one of the most beautiful, kind souls I’ve ever met. Everyone in our school sees how bright your light shines, and we all feel lucky to know you. Thank you for being a sunshine in Westwood.
As you prepare to move on to grad school and the next chapter of your journey, know that your impact here is lasting. I don’t think I could have gotten to where I am without you. You’ve been my advisor, my comfort, my cheerleader, and my inspiration. Your mentorship created a ripple effect; one that will carry through every child in my classroom and, I hope, into every teacher I one day support.
Because of you, I am a better teacher. And because of you, my students are better too.
