Thank a Teacher!
March 5, 2009Ever wonder about a teacher who influenced you?
Just after the 1st of January I received a surprise email forwarded by a friend of my family. It was from my high school art teacher, Bruce Aydelotte. Attached to the email was a picture of the two of us from 38 years ago. In the photo Mr. Aydelotte is demonstrating pen and ink and I was standing next to him wearing one of my favorite outfits, a Mondrian dress. I am sure those of you who went to high school during that era remember those dresses. 
Don’t I wish I still had that dress today! I loved it. And everyone liked Mr. Aydelotte. He was young and could relate to students, he was good looking and his class was interesting and fun. Everyone was engaged and focused in their learning. Regardless of whether students had Mr. Aydelotte as a teacher or not, they all knew him because he drove a really cool Porsche. When he left the high school at the end of my sophomore year it was a surprise and a disappointment to many of us.
Needless to say, an email from him contributed to the start of my happy new year and has given us a chance to catch up on the years since 1970. We’ve exchanged emails, Bruce has sent pictures of him, his family, his visits to Maine, and his cars. When I opened a picture of him with his two beautiful daughters in front of his 65th birthday cake, I realized that I’ve aged. (Imagine?!) He explained that he has had numerous old cars over the years and enjoys going to car shows. After leaving teaching he took a variety of paths, one was to graduate school. It turns out he did his masters program where I did my undergraduate degree and was there during the same time. He returned to education as a guidance counselor.
How many of you have a teacher you think about but have no idea how to get in touch or even know if the person is still alive? In my first email to him I mentioned how I often asked students if they’ve thanked the teachers who have meant a lot to them, the teachers who have influenced them in a career or personal choice, the ones who had or still do support them? Here, I had that opportunity to walk down memory lane and thank Mr. Aydelotte for teaching me, not just about art, but about life. I know that each of you have taught so much more than techniques and skills, but also about life. I thanked him for sharing his knowledge of calligraphy, something I still love. In some small way by thanking Mr. Aydelotte I have reached out to other teachers. Mr. Aydelotte lives near where I grew up so hopefully when I visit relatives we’ll have a chance to get together.
I realize this opportunity would never have happened if it wasn’t for technology. We are fortunate to be Maine educators with the technology we have. So, how about you? If you are like me and don’t live near where you grew up or don’t see your teachers, consider locating them so you also can, THANK A TEACHER!
I’m so old that my teachers are probably all dead now but, if I could, I would thank my junior high music teacher. She will never know that she contributed to my decision to become a teacher. I grew up in a family that had neither the means nor the inclination to be involved in the arts. My music teacher organized field trips for her chorus students to performances that many of us would not have been able to attend otherwise. She took me to my first opera, a community performance of Die Fledermaus. It was the first live stage performance I had ever seen and I was hooked. That’s where my love of music and theater began and it changed my life. This teacher gave me something that my family would not and made me realize what a difference teachers can make.
I hope I’ve done this for my students over the years. I believe that is what public education is all about – providing opportunities for all kids from all backgrounds. And nothing thrills me more than to receive an email from a former student saying, “Remember that play we did in 6th grade?”
I have no idea where she is now, but I would love to have the opportunity to thank one of my teachers from college, Peggy Jo Wilhelm. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her at UM. I try every day to model her professionalism, her love of music and especially her kindness toward all students. Thank you, Peggy Jo, where ever you are!!
Thanks for your comment Nicole! I wonder if Laura Artesani or someone else in the music department might know the whereabouts of Peggy Jo?
Thank you Mr Marshall!
A fantastic and foremost middle level educator and a champion of middle school philosophy.
A man that could spin many plates or as many plates that were needed to engage all students on whatever level necessary – something I aspire to …..
EVERYDAY!
thank you
I enjoyed your article about your HS art teacher because I also have had some opportunities to thank former teachers. I ran into my 6th grade teacher a number of years ago. He’s the reason I’m a teacher. After 6th grade it was just a matter of narrowing down what I wanted to teach. I also got to thank my HS band director. He’s the reason I chose to teach music. It was one of those “Ah ha!” moments when he asked me if I was going to college for music. Everything fell into place after that and everything I have now is because of that question.
Beth
Thank you for your comment Beth! YOU are fortunate to have had the past opportunities as a student! And again to be able to thanks a teacher! I love those “ah ha” moments. Argy
I was Argy’s Art Teacher when she was in high school, and I can hardly express my pleasure at seeing how far this former art student of mine has progressed in the Arts Education world……..I am soooooo proud of her and her accomplishments…..
It is I who needs to thank her for taking whatever I may have given her and running with it all the way to the position in the arts that she holds today…..she is a wonderful young woman whom I admire more than ever and wish her continued great success in the field of Arts Education…..
….and, now that I recall, I guess I did drive a pretty cool Porsche in those days!! Now I drive a ’32 Ford hot rod!
BA @ the Jersey Shore
This is a long shot. I have a pen and ink “Rainy Day” signed Aydelotte ’34. I think your teacher is much too young to have produced this drawing, but perhaps he is the son of ??/? any ideas, please let me know.