the story of Teddy Stoddard

Teddy Stoddard was a fifth-grade student who felt isolated and neglected. His teacher, Mrs. Thompson, initially viewed him as a troubled student.

On the first day of school, Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class and said, “I love you all,” as most teachers do. However, she secretly excluded one student, Teddy Stoddard, who sat in the front row. She had observed Teddy the previous year, noting that he didn’t play with the other kids, his clothes were always dirty, and he seemed unhappy. Correcting his papers, she took pleasure in marking them with big red X’s and writing “Fail” at the top.

At Mrs. Thompson’s school, teachers were required to review each student’s previous records. She placed Teddy’s records at the end and was surprised when she read the comments from his past teachers. In first grade, he was described as “smart and cheerful,” but later notes revealed that his mother had been ill and had passed away, leaving Teddy in a difficult home situation.

Feeling ashamed, Mrs. Thompson’s perspective changed after Teddy gave her a poorly wrapped Christmas gift. Inside, she found a necklace made of fake pearls and a nearly empty bottle of perfume. While other students laughed, Mrs. Thompson expressed her admiration for the gift and wore the necklace, even putting some perfume on her wrist. Teddy then told her, “You smell just like my mom!”

After that day, Mrs. Thompson changed her approach. She focused on teaching her students with love and care, especially Teddy. With encouragement, Teddy began to excel in class and became one of her top students. By the end of the year, he was thriving academically.

Years later, Teddy sent Mrs. Thompson a note saying she was the best teacher he ever had. As time passed, he informed her of his graduation from high school and later college, where he graduated with honors. Eventually, he became Dr. Theodore F. Stoddard.

In a letter before his wedding, Teddy invited Mrs. Thompson to take his mother’s place at the ceremony, expressing how much her support meant to him. On that day, she wore the same necklace he had given her years ago. When they embraced, Teddy thanked her for believing in him and making him feel important.

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, replied, “You taught me how to be a great teacher; I didn’t know how until I met you.”

Today, Dr. Stoddard runs a cancer treatment center named after him, which is renowned in the United States.

The story beautifully illustrates how a teacher’s kindness and belief in a student can profoundly impact their life trajectory.