Letters to the editor may be sent to [email protected]. All opinions stated in letters to the editor and guest columns are those of the author and should not be construed as an endorsement by Lowell’s First Look.
Lowell First Look,
I am a graduate of Lowell High School, Class of 1998. I lived in Lowell throughout my childhood, moved around the U.S. as an adult, and am now back in the Alto area. Growing up, my favorite places at Alto Elementary, Lowell Middle School, and Lowell High School were always the libraries. They were the places where I could get lost in new worlds, research a topic of interest, study for an upcoming test, or work on a project. I can’t ever remember those locations being anything other than welcoming and peaceful.
Our world is made up of so many people with diverse perspectives and experiences. Reading books that share those perspectives helps others open their minds to see the world in a new light. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all,” and I believe she was 100% correct.
One of my teachers at LHS was Christine Beachler. At the time, she was my Accounting I & II teacher, and she is now the current High School Librarian & Library Media Director. During high school, I found that she was a great educator who genuinely cared about her students’ well-being. I remember a tough time I had during school, and while in her class, she noticed and made me feel like things would be okay. I don’t think she ever realized just how much that meant to me.
I was fortunate to reconnect with Mrs. Beachler as an adult when I reached out to Lowell High School to donate copies of my first novel (The Tales of Iryvalya series, by LeAnn Kelley – I used a pen name because my name is not easy to spell or pronounce). My reason for wanting to donate copies to the school library was because reading was one of my favorite activities, and writing had always been my passion. If I could give back to another student by providing them with the opportunity to either escape into a new world or inspire them to become a writer too, then that would be meaningful. Without the library and reading, I don’t know if I would be the writer I am today—about to publish the third novel in my book series.
The goal of this letter is to show support for Mrs. Beachler and her family, as well as for the other educators and school board staff. Many of us see you and appreciate the hard work you are doing for the students of LHS. While I can’t say my experience as a student was always perfect, teachers like Mrs. Beachler and Ms. Kuna were always there to help teach and support their students in ways I will always be grateful for.
Mrs. Beachler, please know you have so many people behind you, supporting you, and remembering how wonderful you were—and continue to be—as an educator.
Erin Cardamone
AKA Author LeAnn Kelley
Lowell Schools Alumni
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