An Open Letter to the Best Teacher Ever

Dear Ms. McGovern,

First and foremost, I want to say thank you for being a great teacher to me. Thank you for always believing in me when no one else did. I realize that being a teacher is a difficult job, but you deserve a lot more recognition for being an inspiration to your students: past and present. It’s been almost 20 years since I first stepped foot in your classroom and I’ve learned a lot every time I’m there. You always encouraged me and everyone else to be the best that we could be. I still have my eighth grade yearbook and look back at all the great memories I’ve had. I remember you giving me a Dallas Mavericks jersey on my birthday and it made my day. Whenever I needed someone to talk to about anything, I would go to you. You were more just a teacher, but a mentor. Even though I was a shy and introverted 14 year old, you always wanted me to do well. You always treated us like we were family and never judged us. Every time I was in your class, I always learned something new. I’m now in my early 30s and still have the most utmost respect for you. I know being a teacher is not an easy job, but you made sure that all of us succeeded in the classroom and in life. If I had the chance to meet you again one day, I would say thank you for changing my life and helped me achieve my goals. Also, for believing that I had hope and dreams. Thank you for encouraging me to not give up. I hope to continue to be an inspiration to other as you have in mine. No matter where I am, I’ll always be a Gunn Gator for life: then, now, and forever.

Sincerely,

Mark Wesley Pritchard

What you have read is an open letter to my eighth grade science teacher, Shelli McGovern. I attended Gunn Junior High School in Arlington, Texas, which is my hometown. I live in Arkansas now, but I wanted to write this to show appreciation to an outstanding teacher who wanted me to excel and thrive in life. Like I’ve mentioned in my letter, being a teacher a not easy, but they deserve a lot more credit for uplifting us. When I started eighth grade, I was 14 at the time. I got a bit emotional in certain parts while I writing this letter, because I know how hard teachers work. There were many teachers who encouraged me to be the best I could be, but Ms. McGovern was and will always be my favorite. If you have read my letter and inspired by it, I encourage you, your friends, and everyone to thank their teachers. Whether it’s face to face or in a letter, they need to be recognized for dedicating their time to teach their students.

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