To the editor:

A message of hope and encouragement to our amazing educators:

Every day, you step into the classroom not just to teach lessons, but to live out a calling. You are the steady hands and kind hearts that remind children it’s okay to stumble — because failure is not the end, it’s how we grow.

The children entrusted to our care are the most precious gifts in the world to their families. What a sacred honor it is to guide them, to spark their curiosity and to watch their wonder unfold.

Here in our beautiful Adirondack community of Saranac Lake, we are blessed beyond measure to nurture a love of learning surrounded by nature’s grace and the warmth of this small-town spirit.

As we teach, let us remember: we are laying the foundation for what leadership looks like, what patience feels like, and what joy truly means.

And now, a challenge for us all — look for the good.

Look for the good in every interaction with a student.

Look for the good in every collaboration with those you work alongside.

Look for the good in what the future holds, and in the boundless potential of the young hearts before us.

When we look for the good, we see the light — and in doing so, we empower our students to take hold, take flight and make this world an even more beautiful, bright place.

You are making a difference — one heart, one mind, one moment at a time.

Vanessa Pillen

Assistant Principal

Saint Agnes School in

Lake Placid