Teachers are nothing short of super-heroes

Besides our parents (or grandparents, guardians, primary caregivers), for most of us there is nobody who plays a bigger or more important role in our young lives than teachers.

I had a long and rambling phone conversation with my friend Rob Borden over the weekend that eventually led to that topic, along with sharing memories of our favorite teachers from elementary and high school.

Borden lives in Florida, but his eastern New Mexico roots are important to him. His parents and several extended family members still live here.

I can’t recall a conversation we have had without some mention of his Portales primary and secondary education.

This time he also offered up a great idea. Wouldn’t it be interesting to gather some stories about the teachers that meant so much to our lives?

I couldn’t agree more.

Borden offered up two examples of his own to get the ball rolling: Jewell Price and Mildred Porter.

Price, as many Portales folks will recall, was a second-grade teacher for 41 years in Portales, a career that began in 1936 and spanned the name change from Central School to L.L. Brown Elementary. She retired from there in 1978.

Porter’s career came a bit later — 10 years at Portales Junior High beginning in the mid-1960s, followed by 15 at Portales High School before her retirement in 1991.

“Both of those teachers were so impactful in my life,” Borden said. “I was truly blessed.”

Borden remembers as a first grader being “warned” by his classmates with the inside knowledge that only little kids can have that “Miss Price was mean and hateful.” He entered her classroom with grave trepidation.

To his surprise and delight, he said, “She became one of the two women [outside immediate family] who I credit with teaching me how to be a good person.”

The other — Mildred Porter — he wouldn’t encounter until high school, but he remains close to her to this day.

Borden had Porter for English literature as well as a memorable world history class that he took his senior year. In Porter’s classroom, Borden found a teacher who challenged him, inspired him, and insisted he reach for the highest possible goals, one of which was applying to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a decision that launched him on a successful career.

Along with his PHS diploma in 1989, Borden was awarded with what has been a lifelong friendship with his beloved Mrs. Porter.

I called Porter Monday at her Portales home.

She told me that Rob Borden (full disclosure: she still calls him Robby) is one of a number of students with whom she remains in touch, even though by now, “I’ve been retired longer than I taught.”

The reason is obvious.

“Anybody who undervalues the influence of a teacher is sadly mistaken,” Porter told me. “I think most people can go back to at least one extremely important teacher.”

For the record, Porter herself named two: “Miss Marshall in first grade in Portales and Miss Bomar in fourth grade in Clovis.”

So, dear readers, consider this an invitation. I would love to hear stories from you about the teacher or teachers who made a difference in your lives. I’ll share some of the best ones in a future column (or two or three).

Teachers are nothing short of super-heroes, especially in these challenging times. Let’s tip our hats to the ones who remain in our hearts and memories. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Betty Williamson has a long list of her own favorite teachers. Reach her with your teacher tales at:

[email protected]