Together with college students all across the country, thousands of Florida State University students will graduate this weekend. While much has been and will be written about the fact that almost all of these graduation ceremonies will be virtual, this does not diminish in any way the great accomplishments of these college students.
I am especially proud of our graduates here at Florida State University Panama City. This week I will have the opportunity to speak with many of them (ok it will be through Zoom). I love seeing our students grow and succeed. While my mind this week will be on graduation, I have been thinking a lot about the people who helped these graduates get to this point. One of the things I will miss this weekend will be seeing the joy in the eyes of the spouses, parents, grandparents, children, and friends of all of the graduates.
Impact of Teachers
As we approach this graduation, I have been thinking about a very special group of people – the people who have dedicated their lives to public service and taught these graduates over the years. I have been told by many people in the last month how much they really appreciate teachers after having spent the last month helping to teach their children at home.
Each year, every K-12 teacher spends thousands of hours working with our children during their formative years. They see the fear in the eyes of their students when challenged with a new task. They see joy on their faces when they are successful. They work extra hard to find ways to help their students succeed, even when the challenges are great. And they generally do it for very little pay.
I am so grateful for the many K-12 teachers who helped shape my life. From my kindergarten teacher Janice Butler, Earnestine Larkin and Kay West in elementary school to Carolyn Thompson and Ruby Hutley in middle school and Buddy Deas, Wilbert Caldwell, Geraldine Holt, and Litha McGill in high school, I can remember the personal impact that every one of them had on my life. The list could go on.
Providing That Special Attention
The impact of a local elementary teachers and Florida State University Panama City graduate, Katie Ricca, was recently highlighted on Good Morning, America. Katie, a kindergarten teacher at North Bay Haven, noticed that one of her students appeared sad during a virtual classroom meeting. Katie understood the importance of personal interaction. So, instead of setting up another virtual discussion with the student, she showed up at her house and read with the student (sitting more than 6 feet away). https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/teacher-sits-sidewalk-show-struggling-student-cares-70046979
I saw that passion in my teachers, and see that passion in our graduates providing instruction in classrooms today, and in our students who are working toward a degree in education. This week we will graduate a very special group of elementary education majors with master’s and bachelor degrees who are excited about the opportunity to impact lives. Not only have they survived a Category 5 hurricane and a global pandemic while receiving both their degrees, they faced the added burden of losing a beloved classmate, Reana Velez, who died in a car accident. We were honored to be able to present her posthumous bachelor degree to her husband and mother. The impact of Reana is felt by her classmates every day and will impact their commitment to service.
Thank you
I am so thankful for the work that our K-12 teachers do. They are truly changing our communities here in northwest Florida and I am so appreciative. I am also encouraged that the Florida Legislature saw the impact of our teachers and raised, subject to potential budget concerns caused by the pandemic, teacher salaries across Florida.
To our students who are graduating, to the teachers in the field today, and to those who impacted my life, thank you