The Advocate

Kohai and Mrs. F at the 8th Grade Graduation Reception.

Everyone has that favorite teacher in the course of their academic life. The one teacher that was able to reach you, explained things in a way that you actually got it, who would go to bat for you and give you that much needed kick in the pants when they knew you could do better. The one teacher that went above and beyond for you because they cared. I know that I've had my share of those special folks and I'm glad that Kohai had his, Mrs. F: teacher, counselor, caseworker and fierce advocate.

When Kohai started middle school, both the Hubs and I were anxious. We were so afraid that he would be singled out as the weird kid like in elementary. Thankfully though the Hubs had the brilliant idea of meeting what most people perceive as Kohai's so called weirdness head on. We had him introduce himself to his teachers and classmates to explain that he was autistic.

I think the first time he introduced himself was to Mrs. F and her sixth grade math class. It worked like a charm and from the beginning Mrs. F has been there, helping him, pushing him, keeping on him to stay on task, slow down, read and think through the problem. She never cut him any slack because she knew he could do it. And he can. From that point on they had forged a special bond.

In seventh grade Kohai was lucky enough to have Mrs. F again, but as an English teacher and in the eighth grade she became his caseworker and biggest advocate. Each year since Kohai had been diagnosed the school district pulls together a committee of teachers, counselors and us, the parents, to discuss an individual education program. Mrs. F has always been there for Kohai, planning out goals to help him with his strengths and weaknesses.

The last meeting we had I really thought that my heart would just burst with thankfulness that Kohai had someone like Mrs. F. Here was this woman with a family and children of her own, other children she was caseworker to, telling us, through tears in her eyes and a fierceness in her voice that rang with finality, that our son would be moving on to high school with no problem.

He is smart kid, he knows this stuff and I don't care what the standardized testing say. They don't know how to test Kohai. He will not be defined by a test.

And he won't, not with teachers like Mrs. F.

The Freshman