10-year-old Mang Par didn’t know how to speak English, when she first walked into her classroom at Abraham Lincoln Elementary. In fact, this was the first time in her entire life that she had walked into a real classroom. Par did not have formal education in her impoverished home country, Burma. That’s one reason, why she and her family fled as refugees.

Par had not received a formal education in her home country of Burma. Her family eventually fled as refugees, and starting school in a new country came with a lot of unknowns.

She was terrified.

That feeling started to change when she met her teacher, Mrs. Burgess.

“Mrs. Burgess had a profound impact on my education. Although I didn’t speak English at the time, she sparked my curiosity and instilled a love for learning. In retrospect, my last two years of elementary school were truly an adventure,” said Par.

At Abraham Lincoln Elementary, Par found teachers who looked beyond the language barrier and saw who she could become.

Along with Mrs. Burgess, she remembers Mrs. Floyd as someone who made her feel safe, supported, and encouraged.

“Mrs. Floyd wasn’t just a teacher, she was my constant, my encourager, my quiet strength. Since I was 10, she has been the wind beneath my wings,” Par said.

For Par, some of the moments that mattered most were not the big ones. They were the small moments when someone took the time to make her feel welcome.

“One of the most memorable moments was a family picnic hosted by the EL department at ALE. We were so warmly welcomed, and it was there that we received books and enjoyed crafts together as a family. Another significant experience was with Mr. Hyzer, the gym teacher, who always found creative and fun ways to engage us in physical activity despite my health struggles,” said Par.

That support followed her throughout her time in Perry Township.

When college started to feel overwhelming, her high school counselor, Mrs. Mills, helped her figure out what came next.

“Mrs. Mills, my counselor, helped ease my anxiety about applying to college and scholarships as a first-generation student. She guided me every step of the way, offering the reassurance I needed. Perry Township has shown me the power of advocacy, both having it and learning to self-advocate,” said Par.

Par graduated from Perry Meridian High School in 2020 and went on to study Elementary Education at Marian University.

Then her story came full circle.

She returned to Abraham Lincoln Elementary for student teaching, back in the same school where she had once walked into a classroom scared, unsure, and unable to speak English.

Par graduated from Marian University in 2024 and is now a Kelly Substitute teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary.

The place that once helped her find her footing is now the place where she gets to do the same for other kids.

“I wanted to become a teacher because of the incredible impact teachers had on me when I was a student in ALE. It wasn’t just one thing that made a difference, but the collective experience of being in ALE that truly shaped my journey,” she said.

Those experiences now shape the kind of teacher Par wants to be.

Her goal is simple. She wants her students to feel seen, valued, supported, and excited to learn.

“I plan to help my students grow academically, socially, and behaviorally by being intentional and genuine in my approach,” said Par.

Perry Township Schools helped Par grow academically, but the impact went far beyond the classroom.

“Perry Township Schools played a significant role in my growth, both academically and personally. Throughout my time in the district, I’ve had the privilege of being advocated for and supported, which encouraged me to embrace challenges and fueled my love for learning,” said Par.

Now, she gets to pass that same support on.

“I hope to empower my students to embrace challenges, advocate for themselves, and find joy in learning, just like my teachers did for me,” said Par.

A special thank you to Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. Floyd, Mr. Hyzer, Mrs. Mills, and all of the teachers, counselors, and staff who helped Par along the way.

Their impact did not stop with one student.

It came back.

We Grow Kids. And sometimes, they come back to help others grow, too.