An Exceptional Teacher

To the Editor:

I wanted to take time out to express some thoughts I have on an exceptional teacher and person, Phillip Cruz. He is a seventh grade teacher at the middle school, and I can only hope every parent in Newtown has the opportunity to have their child benefit from his passionate teaching style.

He inspires his students to perform to the best of their abilities and he goes above and beyond the norm to try to give the students the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond.

I felt it was time to give this exceptional teacher his due. My daughter had the benefit of being in Mr Cruz’s classes for two separate grade levels (at our insistence). She has since moved on and I can only lament the fact that he cannot teach every grade level. I write this because my wife and I have always enjoyed the frank and honest dialogue about our child’s academic potential.

So when it was time to plan for our child’s advancement to high school and ultimately college we called on Mr Cruz; and although he was not a current teacher of our child; nor had he been for a year; without hesitating he scheduled a time for us to meet him and guided us on which classes she should be taking and what colleges look for in prospective applicants and generally he helped us develop an academic plan for the future.

It is rare to find a teacher who cares enough about his students, whether they be past or present, and while Newtown certainly has many great teachers we feel Phil Cruz is at the top of the list!

With warmest regards,

A happy Newtown resident

James & Barbara Bernier

83 Sugar Street, Newtown                                      February 18, 2005