Teachers all around the world are
doing everything they can to stay
connected with their students.
Our next guest sent letters in the mail
to every single one of her students.
How sweet is that?
From Wichita, Kansas, please welcome Victoria Bay.
Hi!
Hi, Ellen!
Oh my gosh.
It's so nice to meet you.
Nice meeting you.
So let's talk about you.
OK.
What grade do you teach and how long have you been teaching?
So I am a sixth grade social studies teacher,
and I have been teaching for four years.
Well, as you know, there is no one more appreciated right now
than teachers.
I think every parent at home is realizing how lucky
that they are that they have people like you that
want to spend every minute of the day with kids helping them.
And how essential of a job it is.
Andy is-- you're not even home homeschooling.
What are you complaining about, Andy?
I'm told from other parents it's a lot.
All right.
Yes.
Maybe from your wife.
Yeah.
All right.
So Victoria, how did you find out
that the school was going to be closed
for the rest of the year?
Yeah.
So we were actually on spring break,
and it was the second day of our spring break,
and I had planned to go hiking with a friend
a couple hours from home just to get outside and do something
different.
And I got a text from a co-worker
that said no more school.
And I was shocked and confused, and then
I just broke down and started crying, and just thinking
about how I wasn't going to get to see my kids again,
and I didn't really get to tell them goodbye
since I thought I'd be seeing them again really soon.
So you wrote letters to each and every-- how many is that?
How many students did you write a letter to?
I have 104 students, so I wrote a little over 100 letters.
Yeah.
And what did you say to them?
So I just wanted them to know that they weren't alone.
And when I found out, I just had so many emotions,
and I was frustrated.
I was angry.
I was confused.
I was sad.
And I just knew that they had to be feeling the exact same way,
and one of the ways I like to process things
is writing things down.
And so I thought that what a better
way to tell my kids, like, I know how you're feeling,
and I'm going to--
I'm still here with you, and I'm still here for you,
then to write them these letters.
Of course.
Of course they're feeling all of those things.
I mean, if adults are feeling that, of course kids are.
And even more so because they don't fully
understand it, maybe.
Yeah.
So how many wrote back to you?
Did a lot right back?
I've had about 10-ish students write back to me,
and it's been really fun to hear from them.
But we were told our school was closed,
and so I had some students reach out,
and they actually asked for my address,
and that's kind of one of the like,
you know, no, no, things, like, as a teacher, like,
don't give out your phone number.
You don't give out your address.
And so I kind of joked around with them a little bit.
I was like, if something happens to my house,
like, you're going to come TP me,
like, one, probably not a good to use, you know, waste
your toilet paper.
But also, I know it's you because you have my address.
So it was just good to hear from them
and get to have them share with me their emotions.
But I had one girl that kind of reflected on the year
as a whole, and she shared with me
that I didn't just teach her social studies,
that one of the things that she learned from me
is that no matter who you are, where you're from,
what you look like, what you believe,
that everyone has value, and that we can always
learn from someone no matter how similar or different
they are from us.
And that just that's what I want my students to know
when they leave my room.
And so to know that she gets that was--
it was huge for me.
Wow.
Well, obviously they all got that from you
if that's what you're teaching.
That's an amazing thing.
We're going to take a break, and we're
going to talk more with Victoria after this.
All right.
We're back with sixth grade teacher.
Victoria, I know you go above and beyond--
and I hear this from so many teachers
that I've had on the show.
Out of your own pocket, you have bought
them notebooks, and earbuds, and backpacks, and so many things.
And I know you have a teacher's salary,
and so I'm going to say how can you afford it
even though I know you can't afford it,
but you're doing it anyway.
Why do you do that?
Yeah.
So, middle school is tough, and if you're
having to worry about not having a notebook,
or not having the markers you need, or earbuds,
or you know, being hungry and not
being able to have the same kind of food
that your friends are having at lunch.
Like, that just weighs so heavily on my students.
And I believe that it's my job as their teacher
to help them no matter what and as long as
it's possible for me.
And so I just want to do everything
I can to help them feel safe, and feel comfortable, and let
them know that I care.
And so, honestly, it's just such a huge act of service for me
and a place where I can just give back,
and I know that it's not just me giving.
Like, it's an investment in these kids' lives.
You're amazing.
I mean, that's-- everything that you're saying is exactly what
everybody should be thinking about all the time with being
of service, and it's incredible.
So you have students that are maybe watching right now.
What do you want to say to them?
I just want them to know that I would
go to the ends of the Earth to do everything
I could to help them, and that they are going to hold a very
special place in my heart.
And that I believe in them, and I
know that they're going to do amazing things,
and I just can't wait to watch them
and just to be their biggest cheerleader,
and to do whatever I can to help them and to inspire them,
and just to watch them.
Well, I have a feeling they want to say something to you, too.
So here's a little clip I'd like you to watch.
Hi.
My name is Gwen.
My favorite teacher is definitely Miss Bay.
My favorite teacher hands down is Miss Bay.
She always has a smile on her face,
and she tries to make everybody happy.
What I love about Miss Bay is she's really kind,
she has a really big heart, and she doesn't just
treat us like little kids.
Miss Bay is a very sweet, kind, thoughtful teacher.
What I would want to say to Miss Bay right now
is to keep up the good work she has been doing for each of us.
The letter I got from Miss Bay, it was really, really nice,
and it made me feel good and better about what was going.
You could tell that she knew what we were feeling,
and she was feeling it too.
It was just sweet to get a note even though we wouldn't
be able to see her again.
She wrote a little note on the side saying that I light up
every room that I enter, and that I should never let anybody
dull my life.
I really miss you Miss Bay.
Thank you, Miss Bay.
You are an amazing teacher.
I wish I could just give you a big hug right now
and tell you how much your work has helped me this year.
Thank you.
I love you.
Oh my goodness.
Wow.
Oh, I miss them so much.
How about that?
That was so-- oh, man.
Well, we want to give you something right now.
Box Tops for education believes we all need teachers.
That is why I'm partnering with them
to celebrate teachers like you.
We know that you spend a lot of your own money getting students
the things that they need, so my friends at Box Tops
want to give you $25,000, and they know exactly how
you're going to spend it.
Oh my gosh!
Oh.
Wow.
You're a wonderful human being.
To help teachers at your school, download
the Box Tops for education app on your phone.
Thanks for watching.
Stay safe, and be kind to one another.
Victoria, thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Oh my goodness.