In early 2016, a teacher emailed me, looking for someone to conduct a week-long writing workshop for the all the third-graders in his school. We set up a phone interview, had a fruitful conversation, and before I knew it, Mr. Baker was referring to when my visits would occur. Not if.
I couldn’t believe it! He was affording me the chance to do for children what my fourth-grade teacher, Sister Mary Agnes, had done for me – foster a love a writing, grounded in the ability to see myself as a writer. But I’m not a teacher, so how could I do that? Self-doubt threatened, but I carried on, spending the next few months developing my workshop. If Mr. Baker believed in me, I had to believe in myself. (But wait. He doesn’t really know me, does he?)
The night before my first day, I couldn’t sleep. That morning, I couldn’t eat. I arrived, and Mr. Baker met me in the office. As frightened as I felt, he looked equally enthusiastic. He introduced me to the students and walked to the back of the room. My heart pounded. What if my lesson didn’t meet his expectations? Why didn’t he hire someone with more experience? What if I’m not worthy? It then dawned on me that what mattered was that the teacher in the back of the room believed in me. As he facilitated on that first day, I noted how he interacted with the students. I could see that he had the same “belief effect” on them.
Mr. Baker fostered joy and love in his classroom, and it was infectious. I wanted to ride that wave through my own interactions with the students. He served as the perfect mentor. As I returned to the school day after day, I seized the chance to connect with students in a way I had never been able to, through more traditional, shorter, 1-day author visits. Over the 5 days of working with Mr. Baker, the other teachers, and the students, I was able to build trust and rapport. The children looked to me for validation, just as I had looked to Sister Mary Agnes for my own, more than 40 years prior.
Mr. Baker invited me back the next three years. And I was supposed to return in 2020, but we all know what happened in 2020. And in 2021.
A few months ago, when I opened an email from another teacher at the school, I was thrilled to be invited again but wondered why it was not Mr. Baker who was contacting me. I read on, stopping in my tracks. Sadly, Mr. Baker had been killed in a tragic car accident. Grief consumed me, as I thought of the world, his world, without him. He has left a void at his school and in his community. And, of course, with his family.
But his impact and legacy live on in each student he taught. In every colleague with whom he connected. I’m honored to say I was both. He served as a role model for me on how to share a passion and love with children, by simply being myself.
He is, and will forever be, missed, but this May and June he will be there with me, as I help children see themselves as writers. Thank you, Mr. Baker.
This is a touching tribute, Kathy. Thank you for sharing it. Mr. Baker does indeed live on through his legacy of caring for his students and demonstrating his belief in their abilities and possibilities. He is the best, most treasured kind of educator.
Thank you, Judy. You sure get it. I’m so lucky to have known him. But his passing is such a loss.
Special people cross our paths and we don’t realize the impact of meeting them at that time. His encouragement will be carried on through all that knew him, including you. That’s quite a legacy.
Thank you, Andrea. You are absolutely right. I include you among my peeps!
Kathleen, I have no words to thank you for such kind words about my brother. He truly was just as amazing as you described him to be, and we struggle to navigate this world without him in it. I love to see all the lives he touched. Thank you so much for sharing.
Stacie, thank you for your thoughtful response. I have 6 brothers. I can’t imagine not having them in my life. You are lucky to have had a close relationship with him. You will stay in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much from Mr. Baker’s wife. I am still so proud of his lasting impact. He was such a special man and influenced many from students to peers to community members. Thank you for capturing that. 💙
-Mrs. Baker
It was my honor to write it, Mrs. Baker. Straight from the heart. I can’t imagine your loss; you and your family will stay in my thoughts and prayers. He truly affected my life as a writer and gave me a special opportunity to connect with kids in a unique way. I’m glad to have crossed paths with him.
What a beautiful story.
Thank you so much for sharing how Mr Baker touched your life.
It shows how bright Mr Baker was, in knowing the importance of having good writing skills.
So much, to go as far as seeking out a writing workshop for his students.
I come from a family of writers and I was fortunate to write for our local Lockport news for years.
Thankfully, my friend was my editor, since my punctuation and a few other things were not so good. 🤣
My daughter and my grandkids too, have followed with good writing skills. And enjoying writing and reading too.
Writing can certainly help you in several aspects through life.
Thank God for teachers as wise, kind and caring as Mr Baker, right?
I’m sure Mr Baker too, had a huge, positive impact on many of his students, which they’ll cherish and remember through their entire lives.
My grandson was very fortunate to have Mr Baker as his teacher.
I’m happy to hear the workshoo will be continued. Thank you
How touching. Opening doors and living on. Imagine how many lives have been touched.
Truly! What a gift. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Val.
What a beautiful story.
Thank you so much for sharing how Mr Baker touched your life.
It shows how bright Mr Baker was, in knowing the importance of having good writing skills.
So much, to go as far as seeking out a writing workshop for his students.
I come from a family of writers and I was fortunate to write for our local Lockport news for years.
Thankfully, my friend was my editor, since my punctuation and a few other things were not so good. 🤣
My daughter and my grandkids too, have followed with good writing skills. And enjoying writing and reading too.
Writing can certainly help you in several aspects through life.
Thank God for teachers as wise, kind and caring as Mr Baker, right?
I’m sure Mr Baker too, had a huge, positive impact on many of his students, which they’ll cherish and remember through their entire lives.
My grandson was very fortunate to have Mr Baker as his teacher.
I’m happy to hear the workshop will be continued. Thank you
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Linda. The breadth of Mr. Baker’s kindness is amazing. Keep writing! I plan to, as well.
What an extraordinary teacher Mr. Baker must have been! Everyone has, at least, one teacher growing up that had special meaning in their lives. Someone you will never forget. Perhaps, it was the unique way they taught their lessons or maybe it was how kind, understanding, and encouraging they were to every student, or maybe it was just how much fun it was to be in their class. It sounds like Mr. Baker was all of these and so much more. I suspect, Kathy, that he learned just as much from you as you did from him. And your continued writing workshops, not just in his school, but in every one you visit, is a fitting tribute to his legacy!
Thank you, Scott, for taking the time to read my post and for your thoughtful response. What you said about my teaching him something – I never thought of that, and as an untrained teacher, that is the self-doubt I experience. But he allowed me to grow as a presenter, so maybe, just maybe I did impact him as well. I’d like to believe that. I’d definitely like to believe that about the kiddos I’ve been fortunate with whom to work. I hope you are well. Thanks for connecting!