I was lucky to have a number of amazing teachers in both my elementary and secondary schools. I began my teaching career in the same district I grew up in, at a school I attended, McRoberts Secondary. So, over the years, I have had the opportunity to say “Thank You” to many of the amazing teachers who have influenced my life, some now colleagues and friends. But, there is one teacher, Mrs. Caffrey, to who I never fully expressed how much she meant to me.
As we celebrate World Teachers Day, I want to say a belated “Thank You” to Mrs. Caffrey and all my other teachers who have influenced my life. Often, we are lucky to have an amazing teacher for one year, I had Mrs. Caffrey for three years, in Grades 2, 3 and 4, at Daniel Woodward Elementary. I didn’t have the best experience as a Grade 1 student. I can still remember being singled out by the teacher because of my weak reading skills, and not being allowed to read the books I saw all my friends reading. Three years later, I left Grade 4 confident with my learning and, while there were many factors at play, I owe Mrs. Caffrey a lot of credit. Some of the specifics have faded over time, but there is still a lot I remember:
- Mrs. Caffrey would regularly ask me and other students about what we were doing outside of school. She knew about my hockey and soccer teams, and would often ask how we were doing — she was genuinely interested.
- She held me accountable. I can still see her at her desk calling “Christopher James” — she would use my middle name when I produced work that was sloppy or rushed — she held me accountable to do my best work.
- She had some amazing stories she had written about her own kids and family, and would read them to us as a special treat on some Friday afternoons.
- She gave me a Mr. Men book (I actually still remember it was Mr. Bump). I did struggle with the reading, but this book became a prized possession, and through her encouragement my reading improved.
- She was not very ‘sporty’ but she was one of the coaches at track and field every spring.
- She connected me and a number of my classmates to Ms. Knoepfel (yet another great teacher who influenced me) who, through an amazing enrichment program, exposed us to Olympics of the Mind and other similar problem-solving activities. Ms. Knoepfel also engaged us with technology (Lemonade Stand and Oregon Trail on our Apple IIe computers).
Mostly, I remember Mrs. Caffrey made me feel safe, and I was excited to come to school everyday. To this day, 28 years later, I smile when I think about her. And so, I feel I never really properly thanked her.
Mrs. Caffrey went on to teach both of my younger brothers, and I went back to the school after leaving Grade 7, spending the next five years helping coach basketball. I would often see her, she would always ask about me, my family and my interests. About a dozen years ago, I received a card in the mail from her congratulating me on some of my achievements. There was no return address — I probably should have tried harder to find her — just a couple years later I saw her obituary in our local paper. I clipped it out, it reminds me to thank people when I have the chance.
In Daniel Woodward Elementary School, I acquired my love of basketball from my Grade 5 teacher, Mr. Nakanishi; my Grade 6 teacher, Mr. Whitehead, committed me to becoming a lifetime fan of Bruce Springsteen and, my Grade 7 teacher, Mr. Taylor, became a mentor as we coached basketball together in the years that followed. The three great years I had in Grades 5-7 were possible because of my experiences with Mrs. Caffrey — someone who quietly changed my life and, I am sure, the lives of many others. So, Mrs. Caffrey – I am sorry this is a bit late, but “Thank You”. Thank you for deciding to teach and thank you for being such a forceful influence in my life.
To all my teachers, past and present, and to the many great teachers I get to work with every day in West Vancouver and beyond, all the best on this World Teacher’s Day!
cultureofyes.ca 
Very touching post, Chris
I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of responses from readers sharing their stories so I’ll keep mine short:
– Teacher: Sister Catherine, grade 6
– Best advice not adhered to: “Sit up straight, you’ll thank me when you’re older.”
– Result: CT scan in November for degenerative disc
In all seriousness, best thing Sister Catherine did as our teacher was make us write an essay every week. She then placed the 35 of them in manilla envelopes (for each of us), sealed them and told us to put them deep in our closets and not to open them for 10 years.
A few years ago, when my father passed away, I went through the motions of cleaning out my old room and there, with a layer of dust accumulated over 32 years, was the manilla envelope. I opened it, read the essays and cried.
A teacher’s impact resonates “even in the quietest moments”.
Thanks for sharing this timely post
Thank you Gino. It has been such a powerful day of sharing stories about teachers that made a difference in our lives. A pretty special reminder of the great professional we are part of.
This is a very thoughtful post on your part, too, Chris. Thanks for this.
As the mother of an 8 year-old, the best thing that I read about your teacher was: “Mostly, I remember Mrs. Caffrey made me feel safe, and I was excited to come to school everyday.”
As leaders, teachers, and moms, we need to remember this, and build it into our everyday interactions with our children in all of the ways that Mrs. Caffrey did and more.
Thanks again, for sharing.
Anna
Thank you Anna. Yes, my hope for my children is that they each have a Mrs. Caffrey in their lives.
As teachers, we KNOW that we influence our students in many ways, but when we hear from our former students regarding what was important to them, it touches a very special place in our hearts. Knowing how successful you are now and believing that I may have had a very small part in that reminds me that my 35 years of teaching actually had a tangible impact on, at least, some, of the thousands of lives that I touched. I freely shared my passion for learning and history and saw some students ‘catch’ it. Sometimes disappointing as to how few ‘caught’ the passion, but even one student in a class was uplifting.
Mrs. Caffrey would be thrilled to read this, and in her beautiful Scottish brogue would say “Well done Christopher.”
Thanks so much for commenting on my blog. I had just written this post on the weekend, when I got an email from Mr. Taylor about the upcoming anniversary – it was just perfect timing and a wonderful connection to such an important time of my life. I appreciate your kind words. I also posted this blog to my Facebook wall, and many of your former students, and my former classmates have joined in the discussion. Students you may remember include Sara Hurry, Kristi McMullen, Erica Vititpong, Steve Schmelefske, and Morgan Hemsted have added their comments, talking about their wonderful experiences at Woodward Elementary.
All the best.
Thanks Chris…and it’s never too late to say ‘Thank You’ even if for your own peace of mind. Nicely done.
Thank you very much Becky. I feel so good being able to share this with others, and it has been great to see how many people took the opportunity of today to share stories about the important teachers in their lives.
Dear Chris –
your best post yet – thanks. and great to hear from Brigitte too.
Thanks Linda. It felt like my most important post as well. I have had the most amazing teachers in my life. I love that I have a public place to share some of the powerful stories and lessons. And yes it was a great honour that Ms. Knoepfel commented on my blog – such a great influence in my life.
I also got to learn from this amazing woman and I also had issues learning to read. I was in her class the year after I finally figured out how to read and so for me she worked to boost my self confidence and belief in my reading skills. I remember Mrs. Caffrey asking me some question about grammar (not my strongest subject) and then asking the rest of the class their opinion. Everyone one in the class disagreed with me…but you know what I was right and she finished by saying that just cause everyone else disagreed with me was no reason to question my own knowledge.
I also remember all of the Mister book and smelly markers, and yes thinking of her brings a smile to my face as well.
Thanks Chris for making me remember Mrs. Caffrey, and even if it is late, Thanks you so much Mrs. Caffrey for building the confidence of one little girl.
SIncerely
Stacy Takeno
Thanks Stacy for your comments. It has been a very powerful week as students have shared memories of Mrs. Caffrey and of Woodward Elementary. It is a wonderful reminder of the power of teachers and schools. I know there must be many more out there like us who credit Mrs. Caffrey for helping us to learn to read.
This is a great article, Chris. Without Mrs. Caffrey I would never have grown to love Christmas with Boney M. Mrs. Caffrey used to blare the Christmas album and we danced around the classroom.
Great article Mr.Kennedy…this reminds me or Mr.Muro. I try to make sure everyday he knows how awesome he is. While I was on the island for a tournament one of his old students from 1978 came over and let me know he has been coaching for 20 years because of Mr.Muro. You are right, we need to take time to thank the many people who change our lives. Thanks.
Mr. Muro is a great example – he had an impact on so many students, and colleagues.
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Thanks for linking to this post Chris. I’ve often thought of how Mrs Caffrey changed the trajectory of my early childhood. Somehow she saw something in a grade 2 boy who was slower to learn to read than the fast kids and rather than simply move me to the top group, she pushed me to complete all of the assignments in between the groups – my first experience w homework. She also believed as grade 2s we could chose topics and write reports. I remember researching dolphins and dinosaurs and staying up late to put together these reports before they were due.
Most special was when she selected 5 of us to continue w her for grade 3 (including your brother). We had an amazing year of being pushed to achieve more. I sometimes think I was pushed harder and believed in more those two years than in the rest of my schooling. Or maybe school was just easier after she had prepared us for what lay ahead.
Thank you Mrs Caffrey. I’ll always believe it only takes one amazing teacher to make all the difference in our lives.
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