To the Editor:

I am writing in response to the news that a beloved, longtime teacher in Newtown will be retiring at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Jim Roodhuyzen was my teacher at Hawley Elementary School in fifth grade, and the following year in sixth grade, through the transition from the Newtown Middle School to the Reed School. To this day, when asked, "Why do you teach?" I cannot help but smile and respond, "I have known I wanted to be a teacher since fifth grade."

To say that Jim Roodhuyzen was the most innovative, supportive and inspiring teacher I have ever had is simply not saying enough. While I have had countless teachers and professors leave their mark on my life through the years, it is still Jim who stands out. His dedication to his students, and love of learning and teaching came through in every aspect of his classroom, and radiated beyond it to his "summer camp." The lessons that Jim Roodhuyzen taught me in those two years were the most important of my life. It was not the math or English, but the lessons that are less tangible and cannot be found in a teacher's plan book. The lessons of acceptance and hard work, the lessons of kindness and forward-thinking, and the opportunity to always grow and be something more. These are the lessons that have led me into my first year of teaching with the highest expectations for my own students, and the understanding that every child that crosses my path is a chance to mold not just one, but hundreds of other children. You never know when you could be inspiring a child into their future career.

Jim, you will be missed. Thank you for your years of dedication to teaching in Newtown Public Schools, and may your retirement be as fulfilling as the lifetime spent dedicated to your students.

Sincerely,

Marley Koschel

20 Evergreen Road, Sandy Hook                                                                     June 7, 2016