Position: English Teacher
School: Lone Oak High School
School District: Lone Oak ISD
City, State: Lone Oak, TX
Ashley Massey was nominated by Ashley Mounger, the parent of a student.
"Is there a perfect way to say thank you to a teacher? Is there a perfect way to change these all too common words from the English language to communicate the intense emotion that is felt toward a person to whom they have entrusted their child? Can a teacher ever truly know the weight that these simple words carry when spoken by a genuinely grateful parent? Thank you must now become the channel through which sentiments can flow," said Mounger. "Thank you must encompass the raw emotion a parent feels when they realize their child has transformed into a more precious masterpiece than they could have ever imagined."
"As a parent, thank you becomes the heaviest words I've ever written," said Mounger. "Thank you, Ashley, for being selfless, and for allowing my child's worries to become yours. Your words of encouragement have allowed my child to find her voice and express it in a graceful manner. I can see the pride she carries and how she yearns to be a better person each day."
"Thank you for allowing my child to love you," said Mounger. "Your compassion for your profession resonates through all that you do. From becoming a part of the students' mariachi band and participating in all the pep-rally shenanigans, to the hours you spend reading and critiquing each child's work, your devotion to your students is seen every day. Thank you for the time you have committed to not only my child, but to all of your students."
"To answer the question, 'Is there a perfect way to say THANK YOU to a teacher?' Probably not, but I hope each and every teacher remembers there are parents everywhere who appreciate their commitment to our children," said Mounger. "Parents whose eyes fill with tears as they listen to their child recount their day. Mrs. Massey, thank you will certainly never feel adequate. I will always choke back tears as I read my child's papers or listen to her tell me, one more time, how much she loves you. I pray that you will always know that you are making a difference, each and every day."