"I am the teacher who isn’t afraid to go off-topic to learn more about my students. I am the teacher who attends my students’ after-school activities. I am the teacher who purposely goes to my student’s check-out lane at the grocery store. I am the teacher who hand-writes an encouraging note when a student is sad. I am the teacher who isn’t afraid to love, because when I do, I find that both my students and I are successful in the classroom."