The last photo of Mrs. Plowman and her first grade class taken before the COVID-19 closure. Photo courtesy of Plowman.

Teachers can make an impact that lasts for students many years after, as was shown recently for a West Central Valley staff member.

Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated as COVID-19 has caused those in the profession to guide and connect with their students online instead of in the classroom. In this time a public Facebook group was created (Adopt a 2020 SW IA Teacher) for people to nominate their favorite teachers to be “adopted” by those who’d like to shower the recipients with cards, treats, and other gifts of appreciation. West Central Valley 11th grader Cael Hansen nominated first grade teacher Julie Plowman, for leading an engaging class and inspiring him to pursue a career in education. Plowman shares how she felt receiving Hansen’s kind words, “You know, that was 10 years ago that he was in my class and you always feel really good when you know that a child looks back that many years later and can remember experiences that he or she had, a six year old, and that he still looks upon those favorably. Especially enough to acknowledge you as one of the teachers to nominate so that was a very uplifting, positive (experience) of my Teacher Appreciation Week this year.”

Plowman has often taught the meaning of grit in her classes, which she ordered shirts for her class that displayed that word for a running unit she and the physical education teacher were going to lead after spring break. Alas, the running unit didn’t occur, but it brought Plowman to tears seeing some of her students wearing those shirts during a surprise birthday parade held in front of her house last week.