I'll never forget Mr. Rosenthal at the Weeksville School in Brooklyn. He taught my fourth grade class in 1977. As a new immigrant to this country, Mr. Rosenthal help me assimilate. He offered kind words of encouragement and gentle reminders to others who teased me about my accent and clothing. I don't know if he understood the conditions which caused me to end up here (unwillingly!) but Mr. Rosenthal was so empathetic that school became a break from all my family problems. I was thrilled to be there although it was difficult to blend in with the rest of the students.
Mr. Rosenthal is retired now but I would love to thank him for being the only ray of sunshine in a child's life that was otherwise filled with sadness. I thank Mr. Rosenthal daily by teaching 3rd grade at a public school in Brooklyn. When I encounter a student who is shy or resistant, or has just moved into our neighborhood, I always remember how that felt, and how my teacher made the difference in my emotional state.
If I could ever meet Mr. Rosenthal again, I'd let him know just how much he meant to me, and how much of who I am today, is a result of his dedication as a teacher!
-Fleur Dellimore-Alleyne
Teacher and former student