Great Schools Partnership

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, GSP is sharing stories about the teachers who shaped us and continue to inspire us every day.

Today, we have four teacher appreciation submissions! Starting with one of the founders of GSP, and ending with our current executive director:

"Paul Hazelton was a brilliant, gifted educator and my mentor. As I pursued a degree in Government and planned to attend law school, I also chose to take Paul Hazelton's legendary courses in Education at Bowdoin College. He taught the history of American public education in an eye-opening way that championed the profession and tied the importance of teaching to the core of citizenship and our democracy.

Paul served on Maine's State Board of Education, was considered the historian of Maine public schools, and stood tall as a pioneer in bringing students with disabilities into schools, public events, and the mainstream, having his son become an accepted citizen in the schools, at the College, and in the community of Brunswick. The modeling of Paul and his son happened concurrently with federal legislation ushering in special education. It was incredible.

Upon graduation, I headed back home to Rhode Island, only to return to Maine 2 months later after accepting a Senior Government teaching position at Messalonskee High School in the Belgrade Lakes. Professor Hazelton changed my life's direction.

Paul Hazelton: a great teacher, for sure, and a mentor who championed education and influenced scores of college students to pursue a teaching career. Thank you, Paul."

-Duke Albanese
GSP Senior Policy Advisor
Former Maine Commissioner of Education

"Ms. Barter was my 10th and 12th-grade English teacher at Presque Isle High School. Her classroom was a space both for deep discussion and for fun! She made me a better writer and thinker, and I will never forget the song she would perform for us on our birthdays - you knew what was coming when she pulled out the bugle!"
-Kayla Girardin
Finance and Procurement Specialist

"Mrs. Wong was my 8th-grade math teacher. She was incredibly firm but also warm and fair. She is the reason I fell in love with mathematics, and most importantly, she helped build my confidence. I became a math teacher because of her!"
-Leah Tuckman
GSP Senior Associate

"Mrs. Ferguson was a real-life Ms. Frizzle. In 3rd grade, our class was headed to the Boston Aquarium for a field trip. That morning, we were disappointed to learn that we would have a substitute teacher because Mrs. Ferguson had to be out sick. A few hours later, as we strolled through the Aquarium, we looked over and saw a scuba diver feeding the sharks, knocking on the tank, and waving to us. That shark-feeding scuba diver was our teacher, Mrs. Ferguson! Her love for science, adventure, and learning was infectious "
-Paulina Murton
GSP Executive Director

Happy teacher appreciation week!

For the rest of the week, we will be sharing stories about the teachers who shape us and continue to inspire us every day. Read on or scroll through to hear our stories.

Have stories you want to share? Sound off in the comments. We would love to hear them!

This week I'm appreciating my 1st-grade teacher, Mrs. Mullen! Almost 35 years later, I still think about her often and the impact she had on me as a young student. Now that I have a daughter of my own in 1st grade, I'm realizing even more how special first-grade teachers can be — they set the stage for a student's entire academic journey, and Mrs. Mullen filled mine with such warmth. Whether she was playing "Getting to Know You" on her guitar during morning circle, showing up at our dance recitals on weekends, or bringing us to the beach to explore tide pools, that year with her was such a gift.

-Brean Flynn Witmer

Mr. Parrett, my high school homeroom and Spanish teacher, was a constant presence throughout my high school years. His boundless enthusiasm for learning and life left a lasting impression. He was a wonderful mentor who encouraged students to see educational opportunities in every experience and to pursue their goals creatively. I also credit him and his beloved classroom lemon tree as early influences on my fondness for house plants.

- Dylan Reynolds

My niece Alexandra is completing her first year of teaching at Durham School of Arts in NC. She's dedicated to her students and listening to how she cares about her students and the future of education is inspirational and fills me with hope!

-Johanna Broadwater