Thank You Ms. Andreotti

A few weeks ago my seven year old daughter, Isabella, came off of the bus crying.

My husband assumed that an incident on the bus was the culprit of her tears.  To his shock, she stated, "Ms. Andreotti got a new job."  My entire family shed tears that night.

My husband and I are both teachers.  We have had the experience of dealing with various principals as employees as well as parents.  Between the two of us, we have never encountered a principal like Ms. Andreotti.

She is one of the most genuine people I have ever met.  The love and concern that she displays for her students is extraordinary.  She has the ability to let  them know she cares, but at the same time share a level of mutual respect.  Along with her wonderful teaching staff, she was able to create an environment where children thrive.  My daughters view Medford as their second home, and I have Ms. Andreotti to thank for that.  

It was not until the tragedy at Sandy Hook that I truly realized  what her presence at Medford meant to me.  I had to do what millions of other mothers had to do on that cold Monday in December....I had to send my children to school after the unimaginable had just happened in CT.  

My stomach turned, my hands shook, and tears filled my eyes as I drove my kids to school that morning.  However, it would not be the new and improved safety guards that were immediately put into place that would calm me down and make me feel safe to leave my girls in this building, it would be the reassuring bright smile of Ms. Andreotti.  

There would be no words spoken between the two of us that morning, just a glance, and a head nod, followed by her warm wonderful smile. At that moment I sighed and reminded myself of who was in charge at Medford.  I knew that Ms. Andreotti cared for students as if they were her own and would protect them as a mother would.
 
I drove to my own school that day hoping that my presence could calm parents as hers did.  

It is apparent that her departure from Medford was heartbreaking, for her, her staff and students.  I keep asking myself, Why? In this educational climate of common core standards, there is not a lot that districts have control over.  I wish the Pat Med administration would have done a better job at holding on to this amazing educator who cared for our children like no other.