Dear Mr. & Mrs. McCalla:

My name is Tracy, I am the mother of Jeffrey. He was
one of your daughter’s students.

I just wanted to take a moment of your time to let you know how much your daughter
has changed my son’s life and future in the one short year that
that he has known her.

My son was also new to the Gallatin County school system this
year and I’m sure that Ms. McCalla was as afraid as he was.

However, she did not show it to her students. She always seemed
to have their best interest at heart.

When my son started school at Gallatin County, he had come from the city
school system Of Erlanger/Elsmere, so this was a major change for him.
Ms. McCalla more or less took Jeffrey under her wing and helped him cope and
deal with his new surroundings.

When Jeffrey was in the Erlanger school system, his grades were average,
normally C & D’s, however this year he has moved up to the A/B honor roll
with the help and support of Ms. McCalla.

Jeffrey is a very special person. He loves anything that has to do with the
Armed Services. He also loves to draw. Just Tuesday, Jeffrey drew her two
pictures. At first I think she was a little leery of Jeffrey with his Army
attitude but after she got to know him she realized that was just Jeffrey.

She told Jeffrey that if she ever had the chance to go on the Millionaire Show
that Jeffrey would be her lifeline on the history part and that made him
feel very special.

I just wish I didn’t have to write this letter to you. I really believe
she would have enjoyed hearing this herself.

I know she was working pretty far from her home but I just want you to
know that in the short time she had been at the school, she has truly inspired
A lot of the children she taught,
(especially my son).

Jeffrey wanted to build a cross and buy flowers to take to the accident scene.
He also wrote her a note that we put with the cross and flowers. For
your information the note said: “to my favorite teacher, I will miss you
Signed Jeffrey Hudson”.

I just wanted to thank you for inspiring and supporting your daughter
to become a teacher. I truly believe she guided my son on the right path.
Without her support this year I believe things could have been
very different.

I believe things happen for a reason and her coming to Gallatin
County Upper Elementary was for a specific reason.

Words cannot express the loss we have all suffered in this tragedy.
I want your family to know that her career as a teacher and contribution
as a counselor will have a life time effect on all her students.

Sincerely,
Tracy