We Love You, Ms. Turice!

If you're a Waseca parent, then you probably know Turice  Brown: she's worn many hats in her 12 years of service to the school community, including Assistant Guide, events coordinator, early morning/afterschool/summer caregiver, and Staff Representative to the Board. She's done everything from preparing school meals to taking out the trash.

But some of her most memorable roles are less easy to define: comforter, mentor, role model, counselor, behavioral coach, confidant, cheerleader, motivator, nose-wiper, comedienne. Our children trust her because she provides them needed boundaries while allowing them to be their most authentic selves. She has loved on all our babies as if they were her own.

Now it's our turn to be there for Ms. Turice. After recently being let go from Waseca with neither warning nor severance, we hope to raise the funds she needs to help cover her living expenses until she can find new employment. Ms. Turice is also unable to continue pursuing her certification through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.

It's hard to imagine Waseca without Ms. Turice, and this transition period will be a challenging one for both her and our community. But we know that together we will get through it--and hopefully support a fantastic educator and human in the process.