Every great educator hopes to make a profound and positive difference in their students’ lives. That’s why fourth-grade teacher Lisa Moe always repeats the same two affirmations in her classroom: “Be Kind” and “Yes I Can.”
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April is Autism Awareness Month, so Lisa and other teachers in the Chino Valley School District are having their students decorate paper puzzle pieces to hang on their classroom doors. While Lisa’s students are familiar with autism and what the puzzle pieces represent, they didn’t know until recently that one of their classmates is on the spectrum.
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Lisa experienced one of the proudest moments of her teaching career when on April 4, a boy named Rumari asked if he could say something to the class. His brave revelation – and what followed – left her in tears.
“Rumari has faced challenges and barriers beyond what any of us will ever be able to fully understand,” Lisa wrote. “But today, he stood in front of the classroom with full confidence, enthusiasm, and courage and showed us that there is no challenge or barrier that can stop him. He brought to life the meaning of ‘Yes I Can’ as he explained to his fellow classmates that he was autistic.”
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Rumari described his quirks and differences, encouraging his peers to help autistic people “feel like a somebody.” Lisa was so captivated by the speech that she only managed to record the last bit. But that was all she needed to drive Rumari’s message home.
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After the little boy finished, his sweet classmates clapped, hugged him, and showered him with words of support. They didn’t have a single negative thing to say. In fact, they made sure Rumari knew they love him for him.
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“I think you’re amazing, pal,” one little girl said.
“I think it doesn’t matter what a person does or if it may look weird,” another girl added. “That’s okay. It’s them and it doesn’t matter. They’re good just the way they are – like you, Rumari.”
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These remarkable kids have certainly taken “Be Kind” to heart. That’s all Lisa could ever ask for. “If I were unable to ever teach again or if there was ever a question to my path into this role as an educator, this moment solidified my purpose,” she said.
Watch as Ms. Moe’s students accept their classmate with open arms in the clip below. Share to spread Rumari’s positive message.
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