To the editor:

As a second-grade teacher at Wilkes Elementary, my hope is to help children’s minds come alive as they learn new skills and discover their passions.

In order to maintain that level of focus and enthusiasm, I greatly benefit from continual exposure to best teaching practices — and many of these professional development opportunities have been provided by the Bainbridge School Foundation. I am very grateful for their influence in helping me stay inspired.

After each learning opportunity, I’m invigorated and excited to bring new techniques and strategies back into the classroom. These best practices benefit not only the current year’s students, but students for years to come. Parents come up to me years later with anecdotes about an impactful moment in their child’s classroom experience, and often I can trace that moment back to something I learned during a professional development opportunity provided by the Bainbridge School Foundation.

I’m proud to be an educator on Bainbridge Island, and I’m excited that my son is starting kindergarten in a community that values education so highly. It takes our entire community coming together to ensure we can fully fund an exceptional education for our children!

Thank you for generously supporting the foundation’s Clickathon campaign (www.bainbridgeschoolsfoundation.com/donate). It truly makes a difference for students and teachers.

IAN EISENHOOD

Poulsbo