By Jacy Nails
“Women teachers, by the very fact that they are women, bring something to the classroom that men cannot. They bring patience, understanding, and often, they bring a kind of nurturing that is very much needed for young children.” This powerful quote was stated by educator and founder of Khan Academy, Salman Khan. As March honors the divine creation of women and our history, as well as our present, I would like to take the time to close off this month by honoring an astounding teacher who has impacted the lives of her students and forever holds a special place near and dear to their hearts.
The beautiful and graceful Mrs. Louise Gilliard, former Markham Elementary School educator, celebrated her milestone 80th birthday earlier this month on March 10th. To help her celebrate, a cheerful group of Mrs. Gilliard’s former students hosted a small intimate birthday gathering, where they reconnected with one another and honored their lovely teacher. Each student gave personal testimonies, through words and songs, on the lessons and memories that they will forever cherish with their esteemed educator.
One former student showed their appreciation of Mrs. Gilliard’s love of reading and teaching poems by reciting to her, renowned poet and activist Langston Hughes’ poem “ I, Too”. He shared that this poem is one that she taught him while in the first grade, and it has stuck with him ever since. Another student, using her talent of digital art, gifted Mrs. Gilliard with a technologically curated painting of a little boy with a diverse crowd of people following behind him. The former student explained that the reason behind her gift was that the little boy, regardless of the gender, reminded her of Mrs. Gilliard because he exudes such pride and leadership, just like Mrs. Gilliard. Not only did she exhibit these characteristics, but she would instill them unto her students in the form of what she did best, teaching while caring.
Mrs. Gilliard’s lasting impact on her students’ lives is just another reason as to why women across the globe deserve to be celebrated, not just during this month of March, but everyday because as First Lady Michelle Obama says “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Louise Gilliard and Happy Women’s History Month to all of the inspirational and impactful women in my life!
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