DorisAnn Markowitz

”It is great to see you on Facebook. I remember our class vividly still. Thanks for everything you did for me then – everything would have been entirely different without you!

IUH

”Coming from the best of the best, I appreciate everything beyond words. Thank you for all that you have done to cultivate my creativity….. I will always remember creating our own books with illustrations, describing the PB&J to an Alien, and the Phantom Toll Booth. These things influenced me immensely. Thank you so much!

E

”Mrs. M. I want to let you know that, out of every teacher I have had in my life, you have by far left the most indelible mark on my soul. Even approaching the age that I am now, your stories and words still echo in my mind. I will never forget the strength of character, nor your perseverance – you have truly taught me how to find joy in the face of adversity. I hope life has continued to treat you kindly. You deserve only the best!

MV

”To this day I still refer to many of the lessons that you have taught us/me which I am very grateful.

Specifically, I think you, whether consciously or not, helped provoke the entrepreneurial spirit in me by being a driving force to question everything and approach problems from a different perspective.

Also, through Heritage Day and our family tree, (project design), writing our own newspaper, looking towards the future, the Alien and PB&J exercise and the idea of clustering students were all brilliant. So, in short, thank you so much. You are an amazing person, teacher, and leader…….. Your lessons even thirty years later, still resonate with me. I have so much love and appreciation for people who thrive to be the best that they can be – which is one of the reasons I admire you!

JR

”What a pleasure it was to read “Teacher to Parent,” by an author who happened to be my teacher 55 years ago! Yes; I am the former student mentioned in her book who, in 2023, came across an article about Pearl S. Buck which brought to mind the book titled, “The Good Earth” - which triggered a fond memory: that of my 6th grade teacher taking an hour of every afternoon, to read chapter after chapter to us, until the book was read completely. That was in 1968!

My curiosity as to her whereabouts led me to find her contact info on Google. I was ecstatic! Feeling like the 12-year-old kid in her class again, I called her and it was as if the 55-year lapse in time did not exist. Mrs. Markowitz received my call with the same welcoming spirit she used to greet her class with each day, in the “safe space” she refers to throughout her entire book. As one of her former students, I recall and appreciate the care with which she taught us and made us feel comfortable enough to ask her whatever questions were on our young minds. She treated us all equally, and made us feel equally loved. In fact, I called a friend who was in the same 6th grade class and shared my precious “find” with her, since she lives in the same state as our former teacher. After squealing with delight and declaring, “She was my favorite teacher too!” - she actually took a short road trip and visited Mrs. Markowitz, who welcomed her with open arms. “Teacher to Parent” was written by a special author: one who lived and breathed every concern in her book; a teacher who loved her profession enough to write the book with the hope that all concerned moving forward - teachers, parents and all powers-that-be, will work towards improving a school system that has all-too-often seen neglect within its walls.

I gave the book five stars because as a product of the public school education system referred-to in her book, I am also a witness to Mrs. Markowitz’s remarkable work ethic and extraordinary nature.

What a blessing to be able to recommend “Teacher to Parent” to all the readers out there, to help to broaden the quality of education that can only be developed through the genuine love and care of children - our future leaders.

Cynthia Ramos