By Kirsten Foti, 7-8th Grade Reading and Writing, Arlington, TX:

After eleven years of teaching, I had the unique opportunity of having a full-time tutor work in my classroom. I sent out an inquiry through Facebook and received a response from one of my first-year students. I remembered her, as I had also taught her brother years later, and I decided to give it a shot.

Victoria spent the year with me, and we turned her tutor time into a pseudo-student teaching position. She built rapport with the students, she worked with small groups, she taught my classes, she served as my replacement when I was out. You name it, she did it.

I am now proud to call Victoria a district colleague. She is a science teacher at another junior high in my district. In her first year, she was commended on her classroom management and relationship building. She attributes much to me. I cannot wait until she receives this same experience.