Letters May 2003

Following Your Heart
I loved Katherine Romano's January 2003 cover story, "First Grade, Beyond the Lines," about Vine Street School's Maria Brountas. But what especially tickled me was the thank you note that Mrs. Brountas herself wrote to Teaching K-8, which was featured in the "Letters" section of the March 2003 issue. Her excitement, enthusiasm and passion for her job shone through her words!

As someone who, to the jaw-dropping dismay of my shocked and critical coworkers, is about to follow my heart by quitting my current corporate job and undergoing a hefty salary cut in order to become a first-year elementary intern teacher in an urban, public school, I appreciate the extra inspiration.

I'm ecstatic about my upcoming career move but because I've been receiving such little support for my decision, it's nice to have Mrs. Brountas in mind as a positive, encouraging role model.
Andrea Jean Russell
Houston, TX

Credit Where It's Due
I was so pleased to see my feature, "Grid Unlock," in the April 2003 issue of Teaching K-8. However, I wanted to make sure that my colleague, Ann M. Leffert, received credit as well. Ann is an inclusion specialist in the Fairfield, CT public schools. Our collaboration on the matrices also represented the collaboration of the agencies for which we work; it served as a way to level the playing field for all those involved with the education of special needs children. Ann's use of the matrices in the Fairfield public schools has honed them to make them valuable tools for teachers and parents.
Sandy Librandi
Bridgeport, CT

May 2003, Vol.33, No.8