Note: Agnon kindergarten teacher Michele Sudow won The Plain Dealer’s prestigious Crystal Apple Award – an honor bestowed upon only 12 Northeast Ohio educators each year. Agnon parent Karil Bialostosky wrote the following essay nominating Michele for the award.
By Karil Bialostosky
It was clear from day one that Michele Sudow was a special person and an amazing educator. From the minute the children first walked into her kindergarten classroom last year, she commanded respect and attention, yet radiated warmth, kindness and patience that had a calming effect on the children. Michele is very no-nonsense with both the children and their parents, but she exudes confidence and intelligence. Children listen to her and learn without necessarily thinking they are working very hard. As a kindergarten teacher, I wanted someone who could teach the children to read and write, but also to be creative, warm, caring, sensitive and giving. I think my child and everyone else’s did terrific by Michele.
As if this is not enough, I feel particularly blessed that my child had her as a teacher last year for a reason we never foresaw. My daughter became ill in January and was hospitalized and underwent a couple of operations. Thankfully, the story has a happy ending for us, but we are particularly grateful to Michele and her school for helping us through this time. Michele went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure my daughter felt loved by the school, her teachers and peers; connected to school; and did not suffer an educational lapse.
When my daughter was in the hospital, Michele and another teacher, Ines, visited on what turned out to be the coldest day of the year. They brought appropriate gifts for a little bed-ridden girl as well as wonderful cards they asked children to write at school. During my daughter’s recovery at home, Michele and the class called my daughter during the day to say hello and talk about what they were learning.
Once back in school, my daughter spent some time in a wheelchair and then in a cast. I understand that Michele brought in pictures of wheelchairs and walkers prior to my daughter’s arrival, so the children could ask questions and not feel intimidated (or make my daughter feel badly). On her first day back, Michele made sure to have as normal a day as possible. The class had its usual “circle time” but, instead of sitting on the floor, the kids all sat on chairs so they could be at the same level as my daughter. Michele administered medicine and made sure that there was always someone who could stay inside the class with my daughter during recess. The children all learned an important lesson about differences and disabilities, about giving to and caring for someone else, and we got the gift of Michele. My daughter is excelling this year and did not at all fall behind. She is healthy, and we are grateful to Michele and to The Agnon School.
For more information or to nominate your favorite Agnon teacher for this award, go to http://nie.plaindealer.com/crystal-apple.html.