Michelle Morton: an educator and a friend. Mrs. Morton taught me eighth grade English at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, and she was an amazing teacher. She was kind, witty, caring, and intelligent. She always had something to say, whether it was something educational or something to help you personally. She is truly a hero and deserves to be Educator of the Year.
To start off, Mrs. Morton was always full of bliss; she made everyone cheerful and excited for her class. Almost every time I saw her in the hallway, she had a contagious smile on her face, and I had to say ‘hello’. Mrs. Morton would talk about her kids or about the marathon she was training for, to anyone who would listen. She kept the class interested by interacting with us. She was always good at keeping us focused. To keep us on our feet, she would have ‘brain breaks’ in the middle of class. We would do yoga, dance, or watch funny videos to keep us relaxed. After a quick break, we would get back to work as usual.
In addition, Mrs. Morton was amazing at explaining things and was very hard working. At times, it seemed she knew the answer to any question; if she didn’t, she would help you find the answer. When Mrs. Morton explained something in class, she would give extra detail, show examples, and help us see something from a different perspective. She was always there to help you understand even if it took extra time out of her day. Her hard work was both in the classroom and out. She would always go the extra mile to help each one of us.
Finally, Mrs. Morton was always there to give guidance and help. She was one of the most warmhearted and caring teachers I have ever met. She knew the gossip, friend groups, and always had an input on how to handle situations. Almost halfway through the year, we lost one of our classmates to cancer. The day I found out, none of the school knew yet. Mrs. Morton was the first person my friend and I thought to tell. Standing in front of her, our faces drenched in tears, she wrapped her arms around us until we had the breath to tell her the news that Leon died. Immediately she hugged us again, squeezing a little tighter, as we heard her start to cry, too. She had us go to the guidance counselor, where we sat in the office, until the administration found out the truth. The next day, after the dreadful news hit the school, Mrs. Morton gave us all time to process. A few weeks later, at the ceremony for Leon, I believe she even said a few words.
In all honesty, I believe all educators should aspire to be as astounding as her. They should have the same warm-hearted, considerate, smart, and funny characteristics as Mrs. Morton. I loved having her as a teacher; she truly cared and really worked above and beyond to help us learn. I am lucky enough to call her my teacher and my friend. Michelle Morton is a name I will never forget; she’s my pick for Teen Ink’s Educator of the Year.