Nun Who Has Taught First Grade For More Than 50 Years Surprised By Former Students

Dec 22, 2019 by apost team

Teaching is one of the best ways to have an impact in a young person's life, and you know a teacher has had an impact on their students when the students not only remember them, but return with thanks many years and decades later. A teacher of over 52 years, Sister William Jude is just one of those inspiring people, and she was served up a huge surprise from students she taught over the past five decades. For Christmas, past students got together to return to the classroom and celebrate their first grade teacher during the annual Christmas pageant.

Sister William Jude has been teaching the first grade at St. Matthew School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for fifty-two years. In that time she has not only taught thousands of students, but mentored dozens of fellow teachers. Sister William Jude told Inside Edition that her being a teacher was part of her calling so she gave every student as much of herself and her time as possible. "It's more than a job. It really is your whole life."

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Students from her classroom ten, twenty, and even fifty years ago decided to get together to celebrate and surprise their former teacher. Every year the school celebrates the holidays with a Christmas pageant, so former students thought this would be the best time to surprise the teacher. While Sister William Jude was rehearsing for the concert with her current class of students, her former students gathered together in her classroom to surprise her as soon as she walked in the room.

The reunion was a complete success. Some of her first students were at first unfamiliar to their former teacher, but as soon as they reintroduced themselves, Sister William Jude remembered each and every student and several details about them. One of her students even brought in a photo of her deceased brother, who was also a student of Sister's, and not only was he also remembered, but Sister shared that she prayed for him every day.

Not only did her students share memories that day, but former sisters and teachers that worked with and were mentored by Sister William Jude also came. They shared stories and how they were helped and supported through their own careers, indicating that she impacted even more young lives than came through her classroom alone.

What an inspiring teacher! Do you remember any of your teachers with particular fondness? Tell us in the comments below.