A Teacher Who Made a Difference: Janie Brooks, Chelsea, MI

"It is always the right time to do right for children, who are being born and formed in mind, body, and spirit every minute life goes on.  Take at least one step for just one child, and you will make a difference." -- Marian Wright Edelman, Children's Defense Fund

My town has been blessed with a leader, teacher and mentor who has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of children by helping them feel confident and supported while at the same time connecting hundreds of parents as they faced the daunting mission of raising a family. 

This individual is Janie Brooks, who retired this past year as Director of Chelsea (MI) Children's Cooperative Preschool after 19 years of service.  Janie not only helped Chelsea build strong families by helping children learn and grow, she organized events to enrich our community, responded to those in need, and touched hearts in small ways everyday.

Communities grow and flourish when its children are nurtured.  As a preschool teacher, Janie personally touched the lives of over 600 children and their families in our town, providing a safe and nurturing first school environment for children between the tender ages of 3 and 4.  Through warmth and patience, boundless energy and creativity, Janie taught our children that learning is fun, that we can all get along, and that trying new things opens our world. With this strong foundation in their back pockets, our children embarked on their academic careers ready to learn, ready to grow, and ready to contribute and become part of our strong community. 

Individuals who respond to those in need shape communities.  Janie has always had an uncanny ability to sense when a family is in need and never failed to act to meet those needs, well beyond her work at the preschool.  She performed small acts of charity, spontaneously and often anonymously, countless times for countless families in our town.  Once the mother of a preschooler with special needs became overwhelmed with the arrival of a new baby.  Janie, sensing this mother's need to have time with the baby while being unable to find a suitable babysitter for her special needs child, came to her home several times to care for the preschooler.  The relieved mother got the break she needed with peace of mind that her child was being cared for by someone she knew and trusted. 

Another time, a local family experienced the devastation of a family member's suicide two weeks before Christmas, and the holiday preparations for their 4- and 2-year old children were lost among their grief and funeral planning.  Late on Christmas Eve, Janie drove out to their home and left a Santa's sack full of toys for the boys on their doorstep.  Those boys still talk about the magic and wonder of those gifts on the porch, and so do the parents.  There are literally hundreds of other stories just like these, the legacy of an long and extraordinary career.

Every August Janie has ridden on the preschool's float in the Chelsea Fair Parade.  Wearing a silly costume and with several preschoolers at her side, she's greeted warmly by hundreds of people who are grateful for the way she has strengthened their families.  Preschoolers smile with delight at their teacher who greets them personally every school day with a hug, a smile, and the inside joke that tells them she knows them inside and out.  Older children wave wildly to catch her eye, saying, "Mrs. Brooks, remember me?"  And she does remember them:  their names, their friends, what they were like on the first day of school.  She smiles at their confidence and ease.  Parents smile broadly and wave with gratitude for the support and warmth she gave them in those challenging days raising young children.  It's quite a site to see.

Individuals who touch the hearts of others through everyday small ways make a difference in a community.  Janie's tireless work in a demanding job has brought my community the gift of strong and connected families. 

Thank you Janie, for making a difference.