Comment: Tribute to Windrush from a Teacher

It's never easy to select the Comment of the Week, especially for a week like the past one where we had an unusually high number of reader comments on several topics, including the defeat of the Measure K parcel tax for local schools and the tragic death of a 92-year-old El Cerrito woman struck by a bicyclist as she was crossing Arlington Boulevard. We chose a comment on the June 8 story about an end of an El Cerrito institution, Windrush School, "." 

Teacher Lisa Hayle offered an inside view and deep appreciation for what she found there:

For the past 4 years I've had the privilege of teaching at Windrush as part of the middle school team. I'd never worked with such talented and dedicated people before, and I've learned much from them, which I will share with future students. 
The very first week I taught 6th grade humanities, I was thrilled when students said, ”Thank you, Lisa," on their way out of my classroom. Weekends felt like interruptions of the exciting daily exchanges of ideas and questions between myself and these kids, who'd clearly learned critical thinking skills at an early age. It was easy to see how the children came to be so wonderful when I met their parents. Windrush families have treated me like gold. The appreciative emails and comments, the hugs, the visits to my classroom, all the driving for field trips, saying hello to my classroom helper, Harry the dog, the gifts - will never be forgotten. 
I am grateful to have been part of such a loving community, and believe that 35 years of progressive education has an immeasurable resonance in the lives of a multitude of people. 
I hope that the lush, green campus will be alive again with the music of children growing and learning.

I thank The Patch, and all of you who put children first throughout this turbulent year. Grownups learn how to be more resilient and honest from children- one of the many benefits of parenting and teaching. 
As I've said to my students this year, every end leads to a beginning, and goodbyes are followed by hellos.

• Editor's note: We welcome reader comments on our articles. The Comment of the Week doesn't necessarily reflect the view of El Cerrito Patch. It's chosen according to what we believe will be of general reader interest. For other examples from our Comment of the Week series, please click .