On the first day of school nine years ago, one of the boys who was supposed to be in my class didn't show up. I asked the kids if anyone knew him or knew where he was, and many said I should be glad he wasn't present. When he didn't show up the next day, I got his phone number and called him. I introduced myself, told him that I would love to meet him and wanted him to come to school. I had woken him up with my call, but he consented to get ready and come to class. Well, the kids were right, he was hard to have in class. There were many mornings in the beginning of that school year that I had to call and remind him to come to school, yet as he realized that I truly cared about him and wanted him in class, these calls grew less frequent. As the year went on I tried to help him work through some of the "issues" he had in his life while trying to keep him going with his classwork. I always tried to let him know that he mattered to me and I wanted what was best for him. He is 20 years old and living out of state now, but every once in a while I'll get a call from him to let me know how he is doing. — Ruthanne Keller, Windridge Elementary