I have written, and rewritten this numerous times. The pressure to perfectly describe the degree of appreciation I have for Mrs. Castillo, so whomever reads this can ACTUALLY smile like I do at the ways she shows up for my child, is daunting because she deserves to truly be seen for the work she is doing in this field. I preface by saying my children are adopted from foster care and I, myself, was in foster care the majority of my youth. Viewing from the lens of someone who heavily depended on teachers’ influences for both academic and social success, I cherish those tiny moments with immeasurable impact. Like the first time Mrs. Castillo mentioned family dynamics in the class and automatically included adoption with a conversational tone; my child returned home with a confidence that is a dream for any parent, having felt that individualized attention and regard for her unique cultural experience without the fear of judgement. This happened on several occasions throughout the school year, but that first week of school set the tone and assured me of Mrs. Castillo’s competence, of which I’m now confident made a lifelong impact. My child excelled academically in 1st grade, developing a love for reading and writing, but Mrs. Castillo saw the bigger need and boosted my child’s esteem weekly, helping her display her best-self and even being recognized for the Frias Falcon’s Great 8 Traits (Positivity) award. To be seen as a light for her peers, selected by her teacher for simply showing up with an eagerness to do good and be good, can you imagine how that felt for us all?!? It hasn’t stopped since her school year with her either. The home run, idiom intended, was the year AFTER my daughter was in Mrs. Castillo’s class, when she showed up to her softball game clear across town, just to cheer her on. My daughter had mentioned an upcoming game in passing and was hopeful she would come, but when she did and my daughter saw her, her expression was one of complete adoration, and that memory will live with me (and probably her) forever. To have a child with complex roots beyond her control, being able to shape her outlook on life by intentionally curating a team of supporters has been my mission in life, and Mrs. Castillo makes it easy. Likewise, the mission of Charles and Phyllis Frias Elementary School is to “exemplify high social and academic standards, celebrate diversity, and empower students to be lifelong learners” and Mrs. Castillo is an exceptional representative of that. We have been fortunate to have her a period of time, but the reward will undoubtedly last a a lifetime.