Finding Mrs. Warnecke: The Difference Teachers Make

By Cindi Rigsbee and Donalyn Miller

Finding Mrs. Warnecke tells the inspiring story of Cindi Rigsbee, a three-time Teacher of the Year, and Barbara Warnecke, the first-grade teacher who had a profound and lasting impact on Cindi's life. Cindi, an insecure child who craved positive attention, started her first-grade year with a teacher who was emotionally abusive and played favorites in the classroom. Two months into the school year, her principal came into the classroom and announced that half the students were being moved to another classroom--a dank, windowless basement room, with a young and inexperienced teacher. This change turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Cindi. Her new teacher, Mrs. Warnecke, made learning come alive for her students. She went overboard caring for each child, made her classroom "magical," and encouraged students to pursue their dreams. Although Cindi was reluctant to explore her creativity as a student, Mrs. Warnecke encouraged her to read and write poetry, which became a lifelong passion. The two kept in touch for several years but lost track of each other when Mrs. Warnecke moved out of state. Cindi spent many years trying to reconnect so she could thank Mrs. Warnecke for making such a difference in her life, but to no avail. Eventually Cindi became a teacher herself, and thirty years later she has taught more than 2,000 children and been named Teacher of the Year for her home state. She later came to realize that all those years she wasn't really trying to track down Barbara Warnecke, but rather, she was trying to "find Mrs. Warnecke" within herself.

In Fall 2008 Cindi and Barbara were reunited on Good Morning America; the show's producers had tracked Barbara down and brought both women on-set for a tearful reunion. Barbara was floored at this attention--she had no idea she could have made such an impact on a former student's life. As Cindi travels around talking with new and veteran educators, she is always approached by audience members who are moved to tears and want to share the story of the "Mrs. Warnecke" in their own lives. Finding Mrs. Warnecke not only tells the story of this teacher who made a lifelong impact on her students, it illustrates the importance of the teacher/student relationship in the classroom, and offers principles for other teachers to follow to make a positive impact in their own classrooms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Feb 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9780470608784

Book preview

ONE

Looking for Stars

My brother was already in school by the time I was born, and my earliest memory is of Jimmy going to school every day, leaving me to think of the future when I could go to big school myself. In the afternoons I would press my nose against the picture window in the den, watching for the big yellow school bus and listening for the screech of air brakes as the bus stopped at the top of the hill to deliver Jimmy home.

Finally, in August 1963, the time came for me to start school. I felt so grown up when my mother took me to Pic ’n Pay to buy school shoes. Back then girls were required to wear dresses, and to go with them, Mama purchased saddle oxfords that I hated and shiny black patent leather shoes that I loved. I called them Sunday School shoes. For years, whenever I would hear the clip-clop of shoes on hardwood, I would think Sunday School shoes. My mother, a talented seamstress, made many of my dresses for me. She could do amazing things with rickrack and smocking. Plaid jumpers and skirts were the style of the first grade that year, and Mama made sure I went to school with the best-pressed version she could

Reviews for Finding Mrs. Warnecke

[kitbraddick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think all teachers should read this book at some time in their career. The title speaks for itself, this book teaches about the difference that teachers make. It is easy to forget how much of an impact teachers have on lives. After all, teaching is a job with responsibilities and it can get very stressful but there is also a huge reward. One kind word, one encouragement boost, one hug could all change the course of a child's life. Similarly one negative thing could as well. We are in the business of raising humans and we need to do everything we can to support them and help them be great... even if we are just their first grade teacher. In addition to reminding teachers of this impact, Cindi Rigsbee shares her own teaching woes, and her not so stellar start which is encouraging considering she is a 3 time teacher of the year.