We all remember the tragic day December 14 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary school but for some families their lives were changed forever.
One very brave mother wrote this letter to teachers everywhere.
As another school year begins and
old routines settle back into place, I wanted to share my story in honor of the
teachers everywhere who care for our children. I lost my 6-year-old daughter
Ana Grace on Dec. 14, 2012, in the rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My
son, who was in the building and heard the shooting, survived. While waiting in
the firehouse that day to hear the official news that our daughter was dead, my
husband and I made promises to ourselves, to each other, and to our son. We
promised to face the future with courage, faith, and love. As teachers and
school employees begin this new year, my wish for you is that same courage,
faith, and love. It takes guts to be a teacher. Six brave women gave their
lives trying to protect their students at Sandy Hook. Other teachers were
forced to run from the building, stepping over the bodies of their friends and
colleagues, and they came right back to work. When I asked my son’s teacher
why she returned, she responded, “Because they are my kids. And my students
need me now more than ever.” She sent daily updates on my son’s progress, from his
behavior to what he’d eaten for lunch. And four months later, when my son
finally smiled one day after school, I asked him about it. His response? “Mom.
My teacher is so funny. I had an epic day.” While I pray you will never find
yourself in the position of the teachers at Sandy Hook, your courage will
support students like my son, who have lived through traumas no child should
have to. Your courage will support students who are left out and overlooked,
like the isolated young man who killed my daughter. At some point he was a
young, impressionable student, often sitting all alone at school. You will have
kids facing long odds for whom your smile, your encouraging word, and your
willingness to go the extra mile will provide the comfort and security they need
to try again tomorrow. When you Google “hero,” there should be a picture of a
principal, a school lunch worker, a custodian, a reading specialist, a teacher,
or a bus monitor. Real heroes don’t wear capes. They work in America’s schools.
"When I asked my son’s teacher why she returned, she responded, 'Because
they are my kids.' "
Being courageous requires faith. It took faith
to go back to work at Sandy Hook after the shooting. Nobody had the answers or
knew what would come tomorrow, but they just kept going. Every opportunity you
have to create welcoming environments in our schools where parents and students
feel connected counts. Have faith that your hard work is having a profound
impact on your students. Of the 15,000 personal letters I received after the
shooting, only one stays at my bedside. It’s from my high school English
teacher, Robert Buckley. But you can’t be courageous or step out on faith
without a deep love for what you do. Parents are sending their precious
children to you this fall. Some will come fully prepared, and others not. They
will come fed and with empty bellies. They will come from intact homes and
fractured ones. Love them all. When my son returned to school in January, I
thought I was going to lose my mind. Imagine the difficulty in sending your
surviving child into a classroom when you lost your baby in a school shooting.
We sent him because we didn’t want him to be afraid. “Real heroes don’t wear
capes. They work in America’s schools.” We sent him because we wanted him to
understand that while our lives would never be the same, our lives still needed
to move forward. According to the 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health,
nearly half of America’s children will have suffered at least one childhood
trauma before the age of 18. They need your love. A few weeks before the
shooting, Ana Grace and I shared a special morning. Lunches were packed and
clothes were picked out the night before, so we had extra time to snuggle. And
while I lay in bed with my beautiful caramel princess, she sensed that I was
distracted and asked, “What’s the matter, Mom?” I remember saying to her,
“Nothing, baby. It’s just work.” She looked at me for a very long time with a
thoughtful stare, then she told me, “Don’t let them suck your fun circuits dry,
Mom.” As you begin this school year, remember Ana Grace. Walk with courage,
with faith, and with love. And don’t let them suck your fun circuits dry.
As another school year
begins and old routines settle back into place, I wanted to share my
story in honor of the teachers everywhere who care for our children.
I lost my 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace on Dec. 14, 2012, in the rampage
at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My son, who was in the building and
heard the shooting, survived.
While waiting in the firehouse that day to hear the official news that
our daughter was dead, my husband and I made promises to ourselves, to
each other, and to our son. We promised to face the future with courage,
faith, and love.
As teachers and school employees begin this new year, my wish for you is
that same courage, faith, and love.
It takes guts to be a teacher. Six brave women gave their lives trying
to protect their students at Sandy Hook. Other teachers were forced to
run from the building, stepping over the bodies of their friends and
colleagues, and they came right back to work.
Nelba Marquez-Greene's 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace, who was killed in
the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on Dec. 14, 2012.
—Courtesy of Nelba Marquez-Greene
When I asked my son’s teacher why she returned, she responded, “Because
they are my kids. And my students need me now more than ever.” She sent
daily updates on my son’s progress, from his behavior to what he’d eaten
for lunch. And four months later, when my son finally smiled one day
after school, I asked him about it. His response? “Mom. My teacher is so
funny. I had an epic day.”
While I pray you will never find yourself in the position of the
teachers at Sandy Hook, your courage will support students like my son,
who have lived through traumas no child should have to.
Your courage will support students who are left out and overlooked, like
the isolated young man who killed my daughter. At some point he was a
young, impressionable student, often sitting all alone at school. You
will have kids facing long odds for whom your smile, your encouraging
word, and your willingness to go the extra mile will provide the comfort
and security they need to try again tomorrow.
When you Google “hero,” there should be a picture of a principal, a
school lunch worker, a custodian, a reading specialist, a teacher, or a
bus monitor. Real heroes don’t wear capes. They work in America’s
schools.
"When I asked my son’s teacher why she returned, she responded, 'Because
they are my kids.' "
Being courageous requires faith. It took faith to go back to work
Read more at:
http://www.heavy.com/news/2013/09/sandy-hook-mother-nelba-marquez-greene-letter-ana-grace-teachers-schools-everywhere/
As another school year
begins and old routines settle back into place, I wanted to share my
story in honor of the teachers everywhere who care for our children.
I lost my 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace on Dec. 14, 2012, in the rampage
at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My son, who was in the building and
heard the shooting, survived.
While waiting in the firehouse that day to hear the official news that
our daughter was dead, my husband and I made promises to ourselves, to
each other, and to our son. We promised to face the future with courage,
faith, and love.
As teachers and school employees begin this new year, my wish for you is
that same courage, faith, and love.
It takes guts to be a teacher. Six brave women gave their lives trying
to protect their students at Sandy Hook. Other teachers were forced to
run from the building, stepping over the bodies of their friends and
colleagues, and they came right back to work.
Nelba Marquez-Greene's 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace, who was killed in
the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on Dec. 14, 2012.
—Courtesy of Nelba Marquez-Greene
When I asked my son’s teacher why she returned, she responded, “Because
they are my kids. And my students need me now more than ever.” She sent
daily updates on my son’s progress, from his behavior to what he’d eaten
for lunch. And four months later, when my son finally smiled one day
after school, I asked him about it. His response? “Mom. My teacher is so
funny. I had an epic day.”
While I pray you will never find yourself in the position of the
teachers at Sandy Hook, your courage will support students like my son,
who have lived through traumas no child should have to.
Your courage will support students who are left out and overlooked, like
the isolated young man who killed my daughter. At some point he was a
young, impressionable student, often sitting all alone at school. You
will have kids facing long odds for whom your smile, your encouraging
word, and your willingness to go the extra mile will provide the comfort
and security they need to try again tomorrow.
When you Google “hero,” there should be a picture of a principal, a
school lunch worker, a custodian, a reading specialist, a teacher, or a
bus monitor. Real heroes don’t wear capes. They work in America’s
schools.
"When I asked my son’s teacher why she returned, she responded, 'Because
they are my kids.' "
Read more at:
http://www.heavy.com/news/2013/09/sandy-hook-mother-nelba-marquez-greene-letter-ana-grace-teachers-schools-everywhere/
As another school year
begins and old routines settle back into place, I wanted to share my
story in honor of the teachers everywhere who care for our children.
I lost my 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace on Dec. 14, 2012, in the rampage
at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My son, who was in the building and
heard the shooting, survived.
While waiting in the firehouse that day to hear the official news that
our daughter was dead, my husband and I made promises to ourselves, to
each other, and to our son. We promised to face the future with courage,
faith, and love.
As teachers and school employees begin this new year, my wish for you is
that same courage, faith, and love.
It takes guts to be a teacher. Six brave women gave their lives trying
to protect their students at Sandy Hook. Other teachers were forced to
run from the building, stepping over the bodies of their friends and
colleagues, and they came right back to work.
Nelba Marquez-Greene's 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace, who was killed in
the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on Dec. 14, 2012.
—Courtesy of Nelba Marquez-Greene
When I asked my son’s teacher why she returned, she responded, “Because
they are my kids. And my students need me now more than ever.” She sent
daily updates on my son’s progress, from his behavior to what he’d eaten
for lunch. And four months later, when my son finally smiled one day
after school, I asked him about it. His response? “Mom. My teacher is so
funny. I had an epic day.”
While I pray you will never find yourself in the position of the
teachers at Sandy Hook, your courage will support students like my son,
who have lived through traumas no child should have to.
Read more at:
http://www.heavy.com/news/2013/09/sandy-hook-mother-nelba-marquez-greene-letter-ana-grace-teachers-schools-everywhere/
