Sudbury·Letters of Note

Thanking a teacher

Sometimes, teachers don’t realize the impact they have on students, but a Sudbury visual arts teacher says she was surprised to receive a special letter in the mail from one of her students with that message.

Sudbury teacher Trish Stenabaugh receives touching note from student

Trish Stenabaugh with student Mackenzie Marshall-Deschenes (Brandi Marshall)

Sometimes, teachers don't realize the impact they have on students, but a Sudbury visual arts teacher says she was surprised to receive a special letter in the mail from one of her students with that message.

Trish Stenabaugh said it started with an art class she was teaching that had a variety of students. Some students had no experience with art, while others had.

"I had this small group of mostly girls, MacKenzie being one of them and I felt bad all the time because I wanted to teach them so much," she said.

Trish Stenabaugh shows a letter she received from a student. (Jan Lakes/CBC)

"I just couldn't because I had to make sure … other people weren't painting each other and that kind of thing."

When she could, Stenabaugh said she made a point to share different ideas with the girls, or show them different art concepts.

"The way these girls ran with it was amazing," she said. "Just a fantastic group of students and artists. I remember that year specifically because I was so blown away by what they could do."

Stenabaugh said she's been off work due to illness since the fall of 2015 and receiving MacKenzie's letter came at a time when she really needed it.

"It brought me to tears."

LISTEN TO HER STORY AND WHAT WAS IN THAT LETTER HERE

If you have a special letter to share for this series you can contact the producer at jan.lakes@cbc.ca