Ashley Albert

I'm nominating my high school chorus teacher, Mrs. Ashley Albert of Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Maine. The impact this woman has had on her students in her young and short career has been beyond measure. She goes above and beyond every single day, more so than anyone else I have ever met. She is selfless, loving, compassionate, and kind. She is the person I admire more than anyone else, and she deserves to know how much we love and appreciate her. She cares about us so deeply, her kindness knows no bounds and she makes everybody feel like a somebody. She gracefully teaches the students that would make any other teacher want to pull their hair out. She cares so passionately about all of her students, and it makes you feel empowered just being in her presence. Mrs. Albert may be a choir teacher, but in four years in her classroom, I have learned more about life, patience, kindness, and compassion than I have anywhere else. She teaches the way she lives, with humor, laughter and love. Entering her room feels like stepping into a safe haven, separate from the calamity and chaos of today's world. She's taken class time to calm and comfort us in the wake of tragedies, and to reassure us the lengths she would take to protect us if needed. In the wake of protocol changes and school shootings, she's been a constant reassurance. In a country that is beginning to expect teachers to be soldiers, she has every reason to be scared. Yet she comes to school every day, with strength and determination to teach us and to spread joy and kindness to all. She never asks for help, and she never complains. She works herself to death and I can attest that she quite seriously never stops. Last spring, she had emergency surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on her thyroid gland, and her biggest concern was missing our concert. Mrs. Albert is relatively young, and at 30 years old she's recently married and at a point in her life where most would want to take a step back and have kids. Her work as choir director, musical director of the theater program, management of the Maine All State Chorus festival, (and many other things) keeps her constantly moving and never stopping to breathe. Music is what she has dedicated her life to, and not without repercussions. She has confessed to us that we are why she doesn't have kids, because she chooses to dedicate her life to us. She married her husband, who is also a music teacher, almost 2 years ago, and they still haven't been able to have a honeymoon. It's always been her dream to go to Italy, but between a teachers salary, her illness, and the countless other obstacles, she's been unable to do so. During the 3 months of the spring musical she never leaves the school before 6-9 at night, despite arriving at, or before, 7 am. She charged $3,000 worth of sound equipment to her personal credit card so it would be here in time for the show. She is a constant beacon of sunshine and hope. I can always count on her to rejoice with me in good times, and let me cry on her shoulder in bad. I get to spend every single school day with her, she's often the first one I greet in the morning and my last goodbye at night. High school is a stressful and tumultuous time, and I honestly do not know how I could have made it through without her. I graduate in less than 3 months, and she is the person who has shaped me into who I am more than anyone else. I have never met someone with such passion and determination, to teach us music and make us better people. Music has this immense power to heal and bring joy, and she has made Brunswick High School's choir program one of the best in the state. Because of her impressive teaching and dedication, every year, students attend festivals all over the country and the world and she's by their side the entire time. I love her more than anyone else, and I'm not alone. Every student, even those who've never had her, love her just as much as I do. It's impossible not to love someone who loves and cares about you so much. The world needs more Mrs. Alberts, but in the meantime, we'd appreciate it if you'd show ours some well-deserved love (and maybe a trip to Italy). Thanks for listening!

Emma Hughes