We were saddened to learn Helene Fisher, a teacher whose legendary reputation for inspiring and imprinting each student with a love of learning, passed away at her home on Feb. 21, 2008. She was a warm, enthusiastic, giving, and insightful person who made everyone feel comfortable and good about themselves. She was sensitive and compassionate to each student's needs, helping to build their self-esteem, while maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence and creativity. She challenged each student to learn the most incredibly advanced intellectual and emotional material, more than they ever expected they could grasp. Mrs. Fisher taught her students about Dr. Charles Drew, an African-American physician, credited with creating blood banks and saving thousands of wounded soldiers during WWII owing to his discovery of plasma; and about tectonic plates and their movements as earthquakes. She had her students perform as actors and actesses in plays like Twelve Angry Men and Anne Frank.

Her legacy was to make her students feel that they had unlimited potential. All who had the honor and privilege to know her will miss her deeply. She was a beacon of light on the path of learning, a great visionary, and a beautiful human being.

Linda Miller