Alejandro Saine and Heidi Hancock, Sand Springs Elementary

Oct 30, 2018, 2:13 PM | Updated: Jan 26, 2024, 9:52 am

...

The following was submitted by Matt Seal.

“My wife and I would love to see our beloved “Señor Saine” and Mrs Hancock, a set of team teachers in the Spanish immersion program at Sand Springs Elementary, be recognized for their efforts in quite literally saving our son, Jake. He is currently happily finishing his last few weeks of first grade which we never thought would happen prior to Señor Saine’s and Mrs Hancock’s involvement.

Jake started first grade with a significant case of PTSD related to the fall wind storm and eventual tornado that hit Davis and Weber counties in September of 2016. At the time Jake was a kindergartner at Sand Springs. He was caught in the wind storm that afternoon and knocked down while walking home from school. This experience left him anxious and severely insecure about the weather and attending school. Every school day for about a year Jake would fight us about going to school. He would cry, panic, and latch on to us as we dropped him off. He especially hated bad weather days. The transition to first grade, including a new and inexperienced teacher, only made his anxiety worse. He came home frustrated, sad, angry, depressed, and insecure. Jake dreaded going to school and was starting to shut down at home as a result.

After several emotional meltdowns, dozens of counseling sessions, and many tear filled meetings with the principal, the school administrators (awesome shout out to them too) agreed to have us try a new approach by switching Jake to a new class in the middle of the year. In November, Jake transferred into the Spanish immersion program at Sand Springs and Señor Saine and Heidi Hancock became Jake’s new teachers. We were nervous about the change, especially because Jake would not only be in a new environment, but he would also be behind in learning Spanish.

The two of them have been an absolute miracle in Jake’s life. The day before Jake was to start, Mrs Hancock came to our home with a treat and a card welcoming him to her class. Within days he stopped complaining about going to school. Señor Saine often took Jake in his arms in the morning and would joke with him to help him feel safe. We quickly noticed he was happy and a light returned to him that neither my wife nor I had seen in over a year. Both Ms Hancock and Señor Saine have have extended themselves beyond what’s expected to make Jake feel safe and feel loved. They will stay with him at recess or lunch when he’s nervous about the wind. They help him feel safe when it’s raining by shutting the blinds. As a team they have single handedly rebuilt his confidence. He no longer worries about school and even has stopped having anxiety over bad weather. His a academic performance has also excelled and he loves Spanish! The turnaround he has made is so unbelievable to us. We will forever be in debt to both of them for rescuing our precious little first grader.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the br...

Nick Perry

Baltimore bridge collapse puts the highly specialized role of ship’s pilot under the spotlight

The highly specialized role — in which a pilot temporarily takes control of a ship from its regular captain — is coming under the spotlight this week.

3 hours ago

Shopping carts are parked outside a Home Depot in Philadelphia...

MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

Home Depot buying supplier to professional contractors in a deal valued at about $18.25 billion

Home Depot will buy SRS Distribution, a materials provider for professionals, in a deal valued at approximately $18.25 billion.

4 hours ago

Killer Mike poses in the press room with three trophies he won at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on ...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Recent Grammy winners highlight Ogden Twilight Concert Series lineup

Hip hop star Michael Render, known by his stage name Killer Mike, fresh off of three Grammy Award wins last month, is one of several musical artists set to headline this year's Ogden Twilight Concert Series.

5 hours ago

"Burn Book," by longtime Silicon Valley reporter Kara Swisher is seen, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Sa...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Telling tales about tech bros

Kara Swisher’s new book paints an ugly picture of Silicon Valley.

7 hours ago

pets...

Curt Gresseth

Don’t surrender pets to a shelter. Send in a pro to reverse bad behavior, says Utah trainer

An expert discusses controlling the unwanted behavior of pets.

7 hours ago

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Alejandro Saine and Heidi Hancock, Sand Springs Elementary