My son's mainstreaming this year has gone exceptionally well, mostly because he has a fabulous teacher that takes an interest in him and genuinely cares about him. She has been great, and very instrumental in the success of his education this year. Past years haven't been like this. The right teacher makes ALL the difference!

She called our house this morning. I was eating breakfast, Braden was still in bed, and Mom picked up the phone. Long story short, his teacher has requested that she move up to teach Fifth grade next year and she wants to have him in her class next year again! What?!?! Wow.

I didn't know what was going on until my wife hung up the phone and told me, with tears in her eyes. We both began to tear-up and get emotional. We've always felt like our son was an extra burden to teachers.

Follow up:

No teacher has ever given us the sincere feeling that they appreciated Braden and genuinely wanted to teach him, to embrace him. She wants him in her class next year... again.

Braden has autism and he's in fourth grade this year. We have him placed in a typical classroom, mainstreamed with typical children though Braden is far behind them academically, socially, emotionally, and from a mental perspective. But as I mentioned above, he's doing great this year and making big strides.

Fifth grade is right around the corner and changing grades and classrooms is rarely an easy thing for him. It takes a little time for him to adjust to a new teacher and a new environment and new expectations. But having the same teacher, in the next grade up, would be a huge blessing to us and to Braden.

Understand, Braden won't be held back. This year is fourth grade and next year will be fifth. When your kid has a great teacher you WISH you could hold onto her for another year, but it's rarely possible when your kid is mainstreamed. And we were about to face the uncertainty of figuring out which new teacher Braden would have for fifth grade. Chances are pretty thin, by our estimation, that he would have a fifth grade teacher as compassionate and loving and devoted as his fourth grade teacher. Surely the new teacher would be a step down and backward.

The district's board of trustees voted last week to close one of the schools and restructure the district. That was a tough thing for many parents, who were now faced with change. It was also tough for many teachers, who were about to be out of a job. The remaining schools in the district are about to be drastically changed and grades are going to be shifted around.

When Braden's teacher called this morning, and my wife began getting emotional, I figured that maybe his teacher found out that she would be getting a pink slip. I didn't know, but I was only hearing one side of the conversation. Maybe they were abolishing fifth grade! Who knows. Eating my cereal, I was downcast as thoughts of his teacher being unemployed welled up in me. She has got to be one of the most valuable teachers in the district. How could they let her go, of all teachers?

You can imagine my elation and tears of joy when my wife told me that she was calling to let us know that she WANTS Braden in her fifth grade class next year. She requested that he be with her again. She WANTS that challenge next year. Tears are beginning to form again as I type this.

People with disabilities are generally regarded as a burden on society. But she wants that burden.

Her name is Lana Doherty. Autism parents rejoice with us! There are teachers out there that care. And Lana is the teacher of the century in our eyes.

God is good. God is good. We don't need money. He knows what we need.