I would love to nominate my son’s teacher, Ms. Stephanie K. She has been an incredible influence on my son Zen, who is in a special class that prepares him for kindergarten. What makes Ms. Stephanie awesome is her patience and genuine care. Zen is a very passionate and emotional child, and he can have a lot of mood swings throughout the day. Instead of getting frustrated, she takes her time with him and helps him learn how to regulate his emotions. She sees that he is smart, even though he can also be a handful, and she has never given up on him. That means so much to us. She makes learning exciting because she is creative, proactive, and always engaged with the students and families. She is constantly printing helpful materials, sharing ideas with us, and communicating with parents through ClassDojo. Because of that communication, we feel connected to what Zen is learning and how he’s growing every day. Ms. Stephanie shows she cares by being consistent, thoughtful, and supportive. She notices the little things about Zen and takes time to help him work through big feelings instead of just correcting behavior. That approach has helped him build confidence and feel safe in the classroom. She has helped Zen become a more confident student by encouraging him, guiding him through emotional moments, and showing him that his feelings are okay while also helping him learn how to manage them. She celebrates his progress and helps him believe in himself. She has also supported our family outside the classroom through her communication and advice. She shares tools and strategies that help us support Zen at home too. Honestly, she has helped me become a better mom, because she’s shown me ways to help Zen understand and manage his emotions. Ms. Stephanie has clearly been teaching for a long time, but she hasn’t lost her passion for the art of teaching. She truly cares about her students and their families, and we are so grateful that Zen has her guiding him during such an important time in his life.