Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
My most influential teacher was Mrs. Jewel Hall. She was the first teacher I met when I started high school. Public high school.
I went to private school all my young life. I went to St. Timothy’s school for preschool/ kindergarten. Then, I went to St. Luke’s Christian school for kindergarten. After that, I went to Immanuel Lutheran school for first and second grade. For grade 3-8, I went to school at Shepherd Lutheran church and school. My family went to church there. In 8th grade I was the only student in my class. I graduated by myself. There were 18 kids in grades 5-8 and we were all in one classroom. Grades K-4 were in another room.
So, going from being the only on in 8th grade to a class of 600 kids was a big deal for me. High School was scary. The first teacher I met was Mrs. Hall. She told my dad and I that if I needed any help to let her know. She was my first period Math teacher. She was the kindest and sweetest woman.
She was always 5 minutes late for class because she lived on the west side of Albuquerque . I had so much respect for her. Anyway, I had her all four years of high school, three of them she was my math teacher and my senior year I was her teacher’s aid. I was the only student she ever had for four years straight. We were great friends by the time I graduated. After I graduated I invited her to one of my birthday parties. My family loved her too.
Mrs. Hall is also a civil rights activist.
https://www.liberationnews.org/jewel-hall-abq-civil-rights-leader-speaks-on-organizing/
I believe she is still alive. I know that her birthday is sometime this month. I think I’ll see if I can send her a card.
Pumpkin's Patch 