Parent Shows Heartfelt Appreciation for Teacher Whose Care and Passion Helped Infant Son Reach Milestones
It’s a joyous but bittersweet moment when a child progresses to the next level in their preschool program. Joyous because it means the child is reaching milestones, but bittersweet because the child is growing up, and all the changes that come with that – including saying good-bye to the teachers that were such an important part of a child’s early development.
For Kennedy Klekner, this moment came earlier this month when her 14-month-old son, Crew, graduated from the infant room at Children’s Discovery Center – Park West in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Crew had reached enough milestones to enter the school’s toddler room, which meant he would no longer be with his infant class teacher, Amber Stanley, full-time.
Kennedy was proud of her son and grateful to “Ms. Amber” for being such a pivotal part of her son’s developmental progress. To show her gratitude, she wrote a heartfelt note to Amber on Crew’s last day of infant class. Kennedy shared it with the school, as well, and here is an excerpt of that note:
Dear Ms. Amber: From the very first day, you welcomed our little one with open arms, warm smiles, and the kind of gentle care that only someone truly special can offer. You’ve been so much more than a caregiver – you’ve been a source of love, comfort, and consistency during his earliest experiences away from home. Trusting someone with our baby was one of the biggest steps we’ve ever taken – and you made it feel so right. Every single day, you gave us the peace of mind that he was not only safe, but genuinely cherished. That gift is beyond measure.”
In addition to providing loving care for her son and peace of mind for the family, Kennedy also told us in an email about how important Amber was for Crew’s development in all areas.
“Ms. Amber is truly so special,” Kennedy said. “She’s been there for so many important milestones – from learning to sit, crawl, and walk to transitioning from purées to solid foods and mastering his pincer grasp. Ms. Amber has supported his cognitive and language development in meaningful ways – helping him explore concepts like object permanence and cause and effect, and encouraging early communication. She’s guided him as he learned to respond to his name, follow simple instructions, point, wave, and even say his first words. She’s also nurtured his growing love for books by teaching him how to hold them and turn the pages.”
She added: “Ms. Amber also played a vital role in Crew’s emotional development – celebrating his first smiles, laughter, and hugs. Her care and presence have truly made a lasting impact.”
Amber is a terrific representative of what makes teachers at Endeavor Schools so great: showing true passion for children’s wellbeing and progress while making it possible for parents to be part of a community that is focused on seeing its children thrive.