BORAH: Teachers pass ultimate test

As I read the paper Friday morning I was overcome with tears of joy! I worked as an aide at Borah and they are the most caring, deserving teachers.

I saw a teacher at Borah Elementary comb a girl’s hair when she arrived in the morning and put hair pretties in, so the girl would feel beautiful. I saw a teacher buy a swimsuit for a student when she didn’t have the money to purchase her own. I remember sticking my WHOLE hand in a student’s shoes to play tickle so he would smile. His socks were soaked. His teacher made sure he had new shoes.

For people who assume a teacher’s performance should be judged on test scores, I challenge you to go and volunteer at a school and ask yourself this question: How can students do their best on a test when their personal situation is what they are thinking about? Kids at Borah love school and couldn’t care less about summer break because THEY LOVE THEIR TEACHERS AND THE TEACHERS LOVE THEM BACK! How do you test that?

Thank you for everyone who made the cash gift possible for the most deserving teachers.

DONNA HANLEY

Coeur d’Alene