Dear Editor,

My name is Tonya Kmyoun, mother of Dalton Kinyoun. Dalton has been in Mrs. Lankenau and Ms. Engel’s class all year.

Dalton was diagnosed with Aspergers Svndrome last year. We have been working very hard with him. Dalton made AB Honor this year! First time ever for him, and I owe it all to the great teachers he has. Ms. Engel goes above and beyond to help every child she works with. Dalton would not have gotten this far without Ms. Engel’s dedication and commitment to helping him. She has worked so hard to get him where he is today. He has found confidence in himself that he has never had before. I have been working with both of my children’s teachers and I’ve never had a teacher call me at home to tell me about my child meeting a goal and sharing her time to delight in my child. Ms. Engel puts her heart and soul into her work and truly cares and enjoys what she does for the children.

I was so shocked and truly heartbroken to hear that Ms Engel could lose her contract with Flat Rock Elementary School. My son’s success is owed to the great team he’s had at Flat Rock.

Losing Ms. Engel would really be a devastating blow to the many children, including my son, who have become attached to her because they know she cares about each and every one of them and they trust her.

Ms. Engel has shown a rare ability to embrace and pull the best out of each child she comes in contact with. I don’t agree with this decision to end the contract; it will impact all of the children that have put so much trust in her and come to school each day with an eagerness to learn. Why? Because they have a teacher that actually cares about each and every one of them and it shows. Children can tell when a teacher cares. Look at the educational levels of the children before she started working with them and it will be clear that taking her away from the children that depend on her on a daily basis is a very big mistake. Why suffer the children that need her to save the school a little money? I urge you to reconsider this decision and do what is right for all of our children who have come so far with her commitment, care and guidance.

Tonya Kmyoun
Powhatan