It’s safe to say that the first day of school at Lake Tahoe School is one of the best days of the year. For parents, the first day of school is often a mixed bag of emotions – joy at having time and sometimes peace and quiet back in their lives while the children are at school, and perhaps an occasional tinge of sadness as they realize their child is getting older. I think we can all agree, however, that sending your child to Lake Tahoe School in the daily care of our outstanding teachers is a cause for both.
The key to any school day, however, is the group of teachers your child learns with. Their passion and commitment, support and encouragement, and even their laughter and smiles are positive factors in our children’s lives now and long into their future. Each day, in walking the halls and visiting the various classrooms, I am impressed by our teachers’ skills and genuine joy in working with their charges.
While I am surrounded by great teachers every day, I was also reminded recently of the impact my own great teachers once had on my life. Last week, one of my favorite teachers at Bishop High School, Beverly Bedwell, passed away at the age of ninety-three. As the older adults among us often do, several of my former classmates and I shared not only the news, but also our memories of Mrs. Bedwell on social media. Here are some excerpts from my own thoughts:
“To be honest, Mrs. Bedwell’s passing hit me hard. Others of my teachers – Lee Baumgarth, Bob Campbell, and Ross Sidebottom passing on did as well – but this is somehow different. Whether it’s me (or us) getting old or seeing our former icons or heroes/heroines gone from us forever, it’s sad to ponder. The great news is that their influence will always linger with us. For me, my love of history was ignited by Mr. Sidebottom, civics and government came alive with Mr. Campbell, and thanks to Mr. Baumgarth and his fascination with Crick and Watson’s DNA discoveries, I at least understand TV shows like CSI a lot better… As to Mrs. Bedwell, she was one of a kind – a great teacher and a great person. She saw right through me and all my daily bravado and challenged and helped me see the beauty of literature and the hard work it takes to truly understand and write it myself. But more than just the classroom, each of them was a real person to us – funny, sarcastic, friendly, patient – the list could go on and on. Bottom line, they were human, with all kinds of foibles and faults – yet ultimately, they cared about us, and we knew it. Thanks to them, I later coached like Mr. Sidebottom, took politics and government seriously like Mr. Campbell, tried to be funny and serious at the same time like Mr. Baumgarth, and in emulating Mrs. Bedwell, tried each day to meet my students where they are – always cajoling and challenging them, but yes, almost loving them at the same time. In short, while I may miss them all greatly, they each live on in me – and in all of us. Great teachers do that – they never leave us…”
All of us have been blessed by great teachers like the ones I shared above. Whether elementary, middle, high school, or college, they have impacted our lives far beyond what we may realize. Fortunately, in choosing to join the Lake Tahoe School community with us, you are providing the same memories from great teachers for your children and their future. Just as you remember fondly your own best teachers, we at Lake Tahoe School are not only helping your children learn and grow – we are helping them build their own great memories and experiences, one great teacher at a time.
P.S. Watch our fundraising video from the Lake Tahoe School 2024 Gala to see the impact that our great teachers have had on our students over the years.
