The last few years have been tough for students and teachers alike. But teachers have been going above and beyond to keep things as normal as possible and put a smile on their students’ faces. One teacher, Katherine Meucci, was determined to return to her duties as soon as possible, even after brain surgery.

Katherine, a dedicated teacher at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, received the worrying news that she had a developing brain tumor. The doctors believed it was “probably benign” but wanted to remove it quickly. So, Katherine underwent brain surgery.

Less than 24 hours after her operation, Katherine logged in from her hospital bed to connect with her class and read them a bedtime story, just like she always does. She went live on Facebook and read “Mr. Walker Steps Out” by Lisa Graff. Through the video, Katherine reassured her students that she would be back at school soon.

Since starting her teaching career 17 years ago, Katherine has always lived by the motto “strong and brave.” Even now, after her surgery, she continues to live up to it. She wants her students to see that no matter what challenges they face, they can overcome them with strength and bravery.

We salute teachers like Katherine who go the extra mile to bring joy and normalcy to their students’ lives. Let’s appreciate their dedication and commitment to education.