Carl Sandburg eighth-grader Angel Carrillo called his teacher, Elizabeth Gomez, “the most caring teacher I’ve ever had.” And sixth-grader Brandon Bulka said his teacher, Matt Fink, helped him change “from a nervous sixth grader into a much more confident person.”
The two students wrote winning entries in an essay contest about teachers, sponsored by Illinois State Senator Darby Hills. The Senator posted the winning essays in the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield during Teacher Appreciation Week in early May.
Carrillo, who won first place among middle school students, said Gomez teaches social studies and Spanish Language Arts in a way that makes learning fun.
“I can tell Mrs. Gomez honestly cares about her students,” he said. “She always puts in the extra effort, whether it’s staying after class to answer questions or checking in on us if we seem stressed.”
The result, Carrillo wrote, is that he feels more confident in his work, is more organized and cares about reaching his goals. He praised Gomez’ positive attitude, writing that she encourages students to try their best and not be afraid of making mistakes.
“Her encouragement has helped me overcome challenges and build a stronger belief in myself,” Carillo wrote.
Bulka, a third-place winner, said he had gone from being one of the oldest kids in elementary school to “just trying to keep up” in middle school. The start of sixth grade felt “like being dropped into a movie without knowing my lines.” Then he met Mr. Fink.
“As my band director, he taught me more than just music,” Bulka wrote. “He gave me a place where I could finally relax and be myself.”
Fink explains music in a way that’s easy to understand, said Bulka. But even outside of class, the teacher does more than expected, letting students eat lunch in his room and listening if students want to talk.
“He gives up his own break time, so we have a safe, quiet place to be, which shows he cares about us as people, not just students,” Bulka wrote. “He inspires me to be the kind of person who listens and helps others feel welcome. Because of him, I know that even when middle school gets confusing, I have a teacher I can trust and a place where I feel supported.”
Carrillo, who will enter high school in the fall, said he hopes to make Gomez proud “by continuing to work hard and do my best in school.” He ended his essay with four simple words: “Thank you Mrs. Gomez.”