A Letter from Barbara Bush

In 1992, before she became a Milken Educator, Angie Besendorfer (MO '96) was teaching young children to read at Bryan Elementary School in Nevada, Missouri. Her students received the letter above from First Lady Barbara Bush. Angie dug it out to share with us after Mrs. Bush's passing earlier this year.

Says Angie: "I was fortunate that Barbara Bush was in the White House championing literacy as I was a young teacher. I remember telling my preschoolers who read 40,000 books that year (there were 40 in four classes) that I was going to send a letter to let her know about their reading. I still have the letter that I received in return. I will always hold a place in my heart for such a special woman. She shined the light of God through her service."