Kami Mecham – Providence Hall Elementary School

I cannot say enough already, as we are just 8 weeks into the school year. Ms. Kami Mecham, is a 3rd grader teacher at Providence Hall elementary and is in her 7th year teaching there. She has often been called the student whisper and I know why! She molds and love each child individually regardless of their challenge. She takes the toughest kid and the hardest challenges and turns them into an example other students look up to. My son is one of those tough kids. Let me Explain.

I have the most amazing son in the world. He is full of color and life. He is often the kid other kids go and find to play, life of the party, the comedian. Dalen has struggled in school since the 1st grade. He was tested socially; he is a wiggler, and intellectually, IQ of 119. He spent more time in the counselor’s office then in class. He would often come home from school saying he was stupid and not worth it and has even said he wanted to kill himself. We had plenty of conversations and I was almost giving up on the school he was attending.

Then 3rd grade started. We went in and he met his teacher and found his desk. As he was filling out his paperwork, I pulled the teacher aside and mentioned he had an IEP and would need some extra help this year. Kami Mecham immediately said, “Listen I know he has one and to be honest I haven’t read it all. Let us just see how the school year starts and see what resources we need to pull in. I have a feeling we are going to have an awesome year.” She had the biggest smile on her face and such warmth in her heart. It was as if she didn’t care what he had gone through she was ready to face it with him. I held my breath and hoped for the best…

Every day she was amazing. She calmed this mom’s heart down with sweet email updates on how well he was doing. Everything she said was positive. I kept thinking this could not be the same kid. In the previous years I got long length emails about all the problems he had created. Dalen started talking about how much he loved school and loved his work. He started smiling again. A few weeks went by and he was earning rewards and extra classroom money. He was earning trust and she was giving him plenty of opportunities to earn it!

I then got an email a few weeks later stating they felt they needed to pull back some of his extra resources. I went in worried about what was happening only to find out that Dalen didn’t need them anymore. What was happening in the class was working. She started a Volcano club that Dalen could participate in and had ownership of problems in the classroom that he could help resolve…even if he was causing them. He felt like an example. Ms. Mecham found his motivation through Classroom bucks and reading. Dalen’s reading level has soared. His IEP teacher has to continue testing him because he has tested out. His math and reading are above average. He is being challenged!!

Ms. Kami Mecham goes above and beyond the call of duty every day. I know my son is far from the perfect student, but she loves him, wants him to succeed, wants to harness the challenges and make them strengths with each child in her class. My son would not be the son he is today without her and I know she has earned the title Student Whisper for a reason. She has taken the time to know my son regardless of his challenges. She is building him up by making one on one connections. She gives him opportunities to earn trust. She holds him accountable for his weaknesses and he is being mentally challenged and loving it!

She deserves to have this award for the difference she has made in my son’s life and many others! Please consider her for this award. I know others in the school that would say all the same wonderful things including Ms. Jensen and Ms. Calton in the Speds program.

Truly, she is a blessing in my life and a miracle I have been praying for!

– Carrie Higbee