Amy Blackman wrote in to WPTV about her fifth grade son Jacob’s special needs teacher Madeline Parent.
Blackman says Parents goes above and beyond to make Jacob comfortable in this new world of distance learning.
Blackman will be the first to tell you her son Jacob has overcome a lot. He faces a list of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Manatee Elementary school teacher has been working with Jacob since he was in kindergarten.
“I just wanted everybody to know how much we appreciate what his teachers, especially Ms. Parent, has done over the last six years,” said Blackman.
“It’s just so hard to put into words the relationship that I have built with the family. I wish there was a way I could express it,” said Parent.
Jacob and his teacher were devastated to learn their classroom time together would be cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s not really good. We know we are all in this together. We won’t give up because I know that we will be able to beat this,” said Jacob.
While the devastation of a pandemic is something Jacob can wrap his mind around, coming to terms with the idea of not being able to hug his favorite teachers and classmates is a little harder.
“Jake is a huge hugger. Anybody he comes across at school, he wants to give you a hug,” said Parent. “Amy just mentioned it’s been hard for them. I’ve gotten other emails too from parents it’s been hard for them and 'I was like what can I do?'”
How about a trip to the Blackman’s front yard for a socially distanced visit caught on video?
In her nomination, Blackman writes of the gesture, “I would give Madelyn and the others that have helped us the world, if I could.”
Lucky for her, all Jacob needs for now is an air-hug, proof we really are in this together.