Over the last two school years I have been riddled with regret, disappointment and doubt in my journalistic abilities since the original release of my opinion column “Hannah’s Top Teachers to Claim as Your School Mom or Dad.”
Despite the superb writing quality and the masterminded top five list of teachers, it was made endlessly known to me that I forgot the most important teacher, mentor and mom of all: Anna Saunders.
“Mrs. Saunders is definitely a teacher I’ve been able to talk to,” said senior Amadis Levasa. “I remember when I was really struggling and she actually noticed. She took care of me and made sure I was okay. She always keeps my head up and she’s definitely been a huge support system through high school.
Even with her motherly tendencies, she’s also a great teacher and professional. In my four years of high school I have taken every course she has offered and taken both life skills and classroom skills away from each course.
“I’ve had her for 5 semesters so far and she’s like a second mother to me, said junior Jordan Thomas. The way she leads the class and allows us to be passionate about a subject is something that is rare with teachers. She is one of my biggest role models and pushes me to be the best version of myself.”
But the most important quality she has is passion. For her students, the classroom, teaching, and most importantly, and a very biased opinion, journalism. She has built an award winning program that has created a larger and more connected community within the walls of West Brunswick. Every year the program only gets bigger and better. She has fostered this through her own love for the subject and in turn has helped other students discover their love for journalism as well.
“Mrs. Saunders is overall very passionate about all of her classes,” said junior Paige Levine. “But you can really tell she has a different sort of drive and love for West Wind. I had her for both English and Journalism, and she really makes it feel like a newsroom in her class when 4th period comes around.”
As busy as she stays, Saunders has a million and one titles that she could refer to herself as, but my hope is that she knows just how much of a school mom and mentor she really is to all of her students.
“She notices the little things, ” said Levasa. “We’re more than just students to her and it shows.”
