Rouse High School senior Stirling Duncan, recognizing Kathleen Forsell: "I chose to recognize Mrs. Forsell because the minute I walked into her classroom I was welcomed by her warm smile. She has an excellent way of making every student of hers feel comfortable and provides a safe place for them to make mistakes, be curious, and grow into better scholars. When faced with a difficult concept Mrs. Forsell works through the problem one on one with the student, even going above and beyond as to encourage the student to create their own opinion on the subject, causing the student to take ownership of their own learning. Mrs. Forsell has inspired me to begin working towards becoming a psychiatrist by showing me how fascinating the human mind really is. Through encouraging the inquisitive inner psychologist in me, Mrs. Forsell has made narrowing down my major for college effortless as I have come to realize that my love for psychology is innate."
Vandegrift High School senior Noah Dennis, recognizing Mike Meadows: "There are many things I could say about Mr. Meadows. He has an excellent taste in Halloween candy, he is the face of Laker nation, and he is the greatest teacher I have ever had. What Mr. Meadows has taught me these last four years extend so much further than the classroom. He showed me the importance of taking class seriously but never yourself. During class he pushed me to not only score higher on exams but become a better learner. Mr. Meadows single-handedly made math my favorite subject with his charismatic lectures and unique teaching methods. But the true impact of Mr. Meadows is his ability to make all of his students feel comfortable being themselves. He always initiates conversations with students or checks in on our personal lives. I stop by Mr. Meadows room for anything from guidance in difficult life situations to share my thoughts on the upcoming Space Jam 2. Mr. Meadows this 200 word paragraph is not nearly enough to share how much your wisdom and friendship has meant to me over the years but there is no way I could be here today without you. Thank you for everything you do."
Vandegrift High School senior Piper Swearengin, recognizing Nina Legg: "I have selected Mrs. Legg as the most influential teacher I have had during my time in the Leander school district. Mrs. Legg was my AP Seminar teacher as a junior, which as everyone knows, can be the toughest high school year. She helped me get through this extremely stressful, crazy, and chaotic time. She taught me critical thinking skills, the importance of open dialogue, and open-mindedness. Mrs. Legg treats every student equally and makes them feel important. She is very open about sharing her own life experiences, and encourages her students to take an interest in real world issues. Teenagers do not always feel that our thoughts and opinions are taken seriously, but Mrs. Legg ensures that we are heard. She takes such an interest in students’ lives in and outside of her class. For example, when I was struggling with decisions about career and college choices, she not only listened to my concerns, but also used her own personal time to research and find helpful information for me. I can honestly say that the lessons I learned from Mrs. Legg I use today, and I’ll continue to use throughout my life."
