 Please help me, thank and welcome Harriet Sanford to the stage. Over the years, I've used my time on this stage to tell stories. My stories are always built around teachers and their students. I tell these stories to celebrate the Marriott of Ways educators help keep the promise of public education. Several years ago I told a story about a text message from a student I taught over forty years ago. Yes, I started when I was five. Seeing his name in that completely unexpected text message totally out of the blue, I instantly recalled his expansive smile and his generous heart and his seeming disinterest in school. Or maybe as I said that night, it was my inability at first to find the right teaching strategy to which he would respond. But for those of you who know me, I kept plugging away until I found the key to unlock his love of learning. His text message to me read, Harriet Sanford, Explanation Point. This is Elander Lewis. When you were my teacher, you brought this man in to help shape me up because you were worried about me. It made me feel special and important. You were amazing and memorable. You helped lay the foundation for me to dare to believe in my dreams. Over the years I've referenced Ms. Sanford and her belief in me. You just always seemed to know what I needed, a word of encouragement, a gentle loving touch, or someone I could relate to. So after I read you his text message, I showed you a picture of Elander. I hope it's coming up. Maybe? I don't know. Even as I showed you that photo, I dreamed of the moment he would join me on this stage. So tonight let me introduce you to Elander Lewis, my student of over 40 years ago. To make it through this evening in these comments without crying, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this. I am honored to be here and joining this celebration of excellence. I, too, am the proud product of public school education of any high school, excuse me, hack it middle school and where I had the good fortune and the kind blessings to meet Ms. Sanford Arbor Hill Elementary School. A big reason why I stand here before you today is because of teachers like yourselves. Teachers who went above and beyond the contract that they serve or the tees and seas of that contract and their job descriptions. Those are the teachers that students always remember and sometimes reach back out to and come in contact with later in life. They are the ones that do more than teach us math or science or any other subject for that matter. They are the ones that do the little things, whether that's give a hug, provide hot chocolate on a cold winter day. They lift us up when we are down. They are the calm and comfort in the midst of storms in our lives. They continually believe in value and encourage our unique selves. When Ms. Sanford was my teacher, my life was chaotic to say the least. As an alcoholic mother and an abusive father at home, school became my refuge and Ms. Sanford became my savior. She helped me through that year, that year first and foremost simply loving me just because I was her student. The unconditional demonstration of caring was the foundation that opened my mind to the joy of learning. Ms. Sanford gave me the courage to believe in the possibility of my dreams in spite of my circumstances. I will never forget Ms. Sanford. She helped a little boy from a project tenement believe he can change his stars. I now have a family of my own and I reside in a county that has the highest median income in the country. I don't say that to you to be braggadocious. No, no, no, no, no, not at all. I say that to you to say that all students deserve to have at least one Ms. Sanford in their lives and so Ms. Sanford I want to thank you and all of you here who now are or have been teachers for the differences that you make in the lives of your students. One day you will too will get that same text message or that same phone call because you never know what a little gesture of hot chocolate or showing someone that you love them or that they should believe and dare to have the courage to believe in themselves and the dreams to aspire to be something more than their current circumstances. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. So my message tonight is the same as always. Teachers do not need to wait 40 years, nor do they have to be celebrated at a gala, although that would be nice, but what all educators can do is believe in each and every student and that will believe will be the most powerful catalyst for student driven learning and the success that will follow in that way educators can celebrate every day. Thank you very much. Enjoy the evening.