President Joe Biden.Photo: Alex Wong/Getty
A Texas teacher and her students continued their tradition of sending letters to presidents — and got quite a treat in return when they received a response from newly sworn-inJoe Bidenafter writing a letter congratulating him on his election win.
Martha Tavarez, who teaches at Barron Elementary School in El Paso, toldGood Morning Americathis week that after the election, she and her kindergarten students wrote Biden, 78, a letter to offer their congratulations and include photos of their lessons relevant to the election.
Biden’s response,read in part, “I received your letter and wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your kind words.”
“Thanks again for writing, Martha. Forkeeping the faith in us and in the countrywe love, I am forever grateful to you,” Biden concluded.
Tavarez toldGMAthat her class held a mock election before they sent the letter, where they wrote down who they “voted” for and explained why. (The tally? Six votes for Biden, three for former PresidentDonald Trumpand three undecided.)
This is not the first time Tavarez and her class have written to politicians. In the past they have sent letters to former PresidentsBarack Obama,George W. BushandGeorge H. W. Bush, as well as former First LadyMelania Trump, all of whom responded.
“I talk to the kids about the letter and they give me ideas of what to write,” said Tavarez,according to a news releasefrom her school district. “My students are excited when we get responses from people we send letters to. It teaches them that their voice matters.”
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This past summer, Tavarez wrote to now-Vice PresidentKamala Harrisabout a speech she gave on the importance of education,GMAreports — and Harris, 56, responded too.
But Tavarez’s letter-writing lessons for her students don’t extend to just politicians.
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To their surprise, the Cowboys sent Carlos a Jerry Jones autographed photo, an autographed pennant, a gameday program — and a box of Cowboys merchandise for his entire class, like pens, bracelets and temporary tattoos.
“I don’t expect anything in return, but I open my mailbox and it made me happy to know I was heard,” Tavarez toldGMAof her letters. “I’m just an ordinary, everyday teacher. I want to show my kids how drawing a simple picture can bring a smile to someone’s face.”
source: people.com
