Editor's note: In May, MaryAnn Klongland's former student Mallery Olsen, then a senior at Memorial HS, selected Klongland as her most influential teacher. Klongland was honored in Washington D.C. this summer. Her reflections follow.

My proudest and most humbling moment as an educator was when presidential scholar Mallery Olsen chose me to receive the Presidential Scholars teacher's award designating me as her most influential teacher.

When I considered all the choices she had, I asked myself and Mallery, "Why me?" She replied without hesitation, "You were my first teacher. You gave me a good start in school." Wow, talk about how important first impressions are!

Mallery's class was my first year teaching Kindergarten. I looped with Mallery and that Kindergarten class to first grade. I think all of us remember our first year in the classroom. That group of students holds a special place in my heart. Students from that class still come back to visit. Reminiscing about Kindergarten and first grade and catching up on their young adult lives is important to me.

I was invited to Washington D.C. this summer for a week of activities, recognition and sight-seeing. It was an honor to represent the Madison Metropolitan School District in Washington, as well as talk with teachers from other states and meet so many bright young scholars.

My passion as an educator remains the same now as it did when I taught Mallery. To give kids the best start in school as I can. I still teach at Stephens but as a Reading Recovery teacher. I teach struggling first graders how to read. I have one chance to get these kids to read and this chance is life-altering. What better way to give kids the best start in school but to teach them how to read.