{Letter} Commending Meeker schools

Dear Editor:
How can a person move from “me first” to … “it is first about them and not about me”?
The Meeker School District is an inspiring example. Judging from what we have experienced, our guess would be that every morning, before their feet strike the floor, Meeker teachers say to themselves, “that I might, this day, have a positive impact on the lives of my students.” From both heart and mind comes their commitment, energy and the strategy that prepares our children for a promising future.
Privileged to observe and to sometimes participate in many of Meeker’s classrooms, my wife and I have marveled, felt encouraged and inspired by how dedicated and talented we have seen so many of Meeker’s teachers and administrators. From kindergarten through high school, teachers transcend themselves in their classrooms.
We witnessed kindergarten teachers showing the same love to their students they would show to their own children. We saw elementary teachers speaking simply, sometimes using rhyme and reason to convey ideas to which children can more easily relate. These teachers, acting as both caring mentors and as loving parents, fostered children’s confidence and self-esteem.
The elementary math program is amazing. Students are taught not just the mechanics and memorization using numbers but are helped to better understand what the numbers really represent. Even in second grade, students are challenged by real-life arithmetic problems. Students are encouraged to think, to become problem solvers, and to gain confidence in their own abilities. How beautiful was the sight of a student who, on their own, had just reached a problem’s solution.
As former educators and now experienced volunteers, my wife and I are awestruck in elementary classrooms, observing the energy, dedication and talent shown by Meeker teachers. As an occasional substitute in elementary, middle school and high school, I was impressed by the quality of Meeker’s curriculum and the preparation by the teachers. One example involved a middle school teacher who planned to be absent coaching a sports activity. This teacher came to school on a Sunday spending extra hours with the substitute ensuring that students would receive a fairly normal day of learning. Substituting at the high school, I met respectful students genuinely eager to gain knowledge. All three principals including the superintendent demonstrate their dedication, often circulating among classrooms to observe or to assist if needed. Privileged to assist teachers in the Meeker schools, we feel hopeful about the future for our children and for our grandchildren. Their future looks bright.
Debbie and Mike Frazier
Meeker