Alice Erickson, Willow Canyon Elementary

May 7, 2019, 1:00 PM | Updated: Jan 26, 2024, 10:10 am

...

The following was submitted by Amourette Bradley.

“Have you ever had a teacher that stood above the rest? What if thirty years later, your child shared that same teacher? And what if he or she proved not only as extraordinary as you remembered, but even more so?

Alice Erickson is that most extraordinary teacher. Many years ago, I attended her third grade class. It became my favorite year in elementary school, and she proved my favorite teacher. In Mrs. Erickson’s class, we all felt important and safe –to ask questions, to challenge ourselves, to make mistakes. And in her class, we learned more than in any other. Because of her kindness, we wanted to learn, and because of her love for us, she wanted to teach. Even today, I still remember her cursive lesson plans! More importantly, Mrs. Erickson made every day a positive experience. The next year, as I entered fourth grade, I became terribly bullied. I often wondered why in the same school, with the same children, the next grade could change so very much. Now I realize that bullying and out-of-control antics never occurred in her classes because she was the teacher. She paid attention, and she cared. She made sure that she guided behavior through example, treating each student with respect, while maintaining a calm and ordered classroom. I never forgot her teaching through example, and I strove to emulate that years later in my own classroom.

Years later, my son found himself in her first grade class. When asked about his day, he would always smile and say, “Great! I have Mrs. Erickson! Every day is great in her class.” It seemed nothing changed in all those years since she taught me. Mrs. Erickson treated her students with the same kindness and respect I remembered. She taught them interesting and important concepts, carefully explaining and encouraging. She became my son’s favorite teacher, just as she was mine.

One day my son came home signing a few words. Years before, Mrs. Erickson taught a student who used sign language. She learned as many words as she could in order to communicate with her directly. She hoped to make her feel welcome in the class. She still remembered some sign language, and she incorporated words into her teaching. This kept her skill up in case she ever taught a student who used sign language, and it offered her students the opportunity to learn a few words. They, in turn, could use these words to connect with another in future classes. Mrs. Erickson cares about making all individuals welcome in her class, and she encourages her students to do the same.

This desire to make all students welcome in her class earns her the praise of parents and staff alike. On a first grade field trip, I happened to sit next to a special education aide. We chatted, and she asked who taught my son. When I told her “Mrs. Erickson,” her response brought tears to my eyes. “Oh, I love her,” she exclaimed. She said that the extended core (special education) department brought their students to regular classes for a portion of each day. She told me that she wished all teachers could be like Mrs. Erickson. She explained that Mrs. Erickson is very “hands on” with her charges. She makes lesson plans to include and accommodate her special class “buddies.” She makes sure they participate in all activities, and most importantly, she makes them feel like valued members of her class.

Mrs. Erickson cares about her students. All learning levels receive special attention and instruction in her class. Advanced, grade-level, and struggling learners all find knowledge and understanding through her tutelage. She goes the extra mile for each child, finding books tailored to individual reading level and interests, offering varied assignments to spotlight different talents, and providing journaling opportunities to encourage each child to express him or herself. Every student is valued. This ability to reach every child assures that each child learns and feels encouraged. Her kindness guarantees each child feels safe to question and to try. As a result, her students’ academic abilities flourish, self-confidence grows, and respect for others becomes everyday behavior in her class.

For thirty-nine years, Mrs. Erickson has made a positive difference in her students’ lives. Her former students speak of her with love, and her current students view her with the same adoration. Many teachers are good teachers, but few are truly extraordinary. Mrs. Erickson represents the very best of teaching; she is that truly extraordinary teacher who comes to work each and every day with the desire to help each and every student. She consistently, year after year, day after day, makes the sun shine brighter in so many little lives.

So, thank you, Mrs. Erickson, for making every day a “great day” for your students. Thank you for teaching us with kindness and respect. Thank you for taking the time to reach every student. Thank you for making us feel important and loved. Thank you for being the kind of teacher we all aspire to be. All of these reasons and more make Alice Erickson the ideal candidate for KSL’s Teacher Feature.

Sincerely,
Amourette Bradley”

We want to hear from you.

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

Outside of the Yale University Law School is pictured on September 27, 2018 in New Haven, Connectic...

Zenebou Sylla, CNN

Some New England universities, including Yale, break $90,000 barrier for total tuition cost in upcoming school year

(CNN) — Several New England universities and colleges, including Yale, have reached a pinnacle of at least $90,000 for undergraduate tuition and costs starting this fall. Yale University, Tufts University, Boston University (BU), and Wellesley College are among a few private institutions that will top this year’s costs for tuition, housing and other expenses, according to […]

7 hours ago

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after he allegedly t...

Pat Reavy, ksl.com

West Jordan man shot, killed best friend while trying to ‘be funny,’ police say

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after shooting his "best friend."

8 hours ago

FILE: Cedar High School in Cedar City is pictured on Wednesday April 7, 2021....

Tammy Kikuchi and Emma Keddington

Cedar High School grapples with mascot name, five years after it was changed

The Iron School District Board of Education is grappling with changing the Cedar High School mascot back from "Reds" to "Redmen." 

8 hours ago

Dairy cows across the country, specifically in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico are getting sick with a...

Alexandrea Bonilla

Cows across the country are getting sick with a “flu-like” illness

Utah is altering the requirements for livestock brought into the state after multiple cows across the country have gotten sick with a flu-like illness.  

9 hours ago

FILE: The bust of 30 pounds of fentanyl in American Fork on March 21 highlights the drug problem Ut...

Heather Peterson and Curt Gresseth

DEA warns fentanyl most deadly drug in U.S. and Utah history

The DEA said Utah is on pace to see double the amount of fentanyl this year than last.

11 hours ago

The bodies of two men, ages 35 and 26, were recovered from the water, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., se...

LEA SKENE and BRIAN WITTE Associated Press

Investigation of Baltimore bridge collapse picks up speed as divers recover 2 bodies from water

BALTIMORE (AP) — Investigators began collecting evidence Wednesday from the cargo ship that plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused its collapse, while in the waters below divers searched through twisted metal for six construction workers who plunged into the harbor and were feared dead.   The bodies of two men, ages 35 and 26, […]

12 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.

Alice Erickson, Willow Canyon Elementary