The Influence of the Amazing Mrs. Napier

By Jamye Grace Aquino Kamali’i

When reminiscing about my public school experience, my third grade instructor, Mrs. Napier stands out. Her guidance is a prominent memory of my elementary school experience. Her passion for healthy living has motivated me to eat clean, exercise regularly, and live without doubts. In other words, her blunt nature inspired me to speak my truth, advocate on issues I am passionate about, and never shy away from my own feelings. She taught me many things outside of the classroom, but my favorite memory of her is when she taught us songs to improve our multiplication from 1 to 12. Her catchy songs were stuck in my head for years and to this day, I continue to hum the tunes in my head. She made me enjoy learning during my elementary years.

At the time, I was unaware of the low pay that public school teachers received. However, since I’ve learned more about this issue, I am disappointed that the salary for amazing instructors like Mrs. Napier is so low. The imbalance of what teachers provide and what they receive in return needs immediate change.

If we fully fund our public schools, then passionate teachers like Mrs. Napier can continue their important guidance of their students. All students deserve a teacher like Mrs. Napier.