Her name was Joanne Goodmunson. She was my 2nd grade teacher in Minot, North Dakota. I loved attending Mrs. Goodmunson's class every single day. She was infectious. When she read "The Boxcar Children" to the class, I was amazed. I felt like I was Jesse in the story. I truly experienced everything those children did in my mind's eye. Another thing that I loved about Mrs. Goodmunson is how she made each of us feel so special on or around our birthdays. If you had a birthday that month, Mrs. Goodmunson would take you to the cafeteria and help you back a small cake while the other students were at lunch or recess. We had to move in April of that year, just before my birthday. Mrs. Goodmunson knew how much I had been looking forward to that cake so she surprised me--"Big Time"! While I was outside at recess, she and a few students decorated the room. She brought in a cake, big enough for the entire class. When I walked in the room, I spotted a giant card that said, "We will miss you!" If that wasn't enough, she gave me a gift; it was a children's book, The Runaway Flying Horse by Paul-Jacques Bonzon. On the inside cover she wrote, "Dear Tonya, You will be greatly missed. I hope you enjoy reading this book on the way to your new home in Alabama! Love, Mrs. Goodmunson."
I knew from the minute I was in Mrs. Goodmunson's class that I wanted to be a teacher. I have personally tried to be a positive role model for my students like Mrs. Goodmunson was to me. I wonder if she knows what a difference she made in my life?
--Tonya Davis
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