Teacher's Pet - Pets of the Pandemic
Painting by Heather Harrington | Titled: Teacher’s Pet | Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 12” x 12” x .875”
Meet Teddy, a sweet little Daisy dog, known by the first graders at Willow Hill Elementary in Traverse City, as the funny and adorable “Teddy Tuesday.”
Teddy and Ms. Weston, a First Grade Teacher at Willow Hill Elementary in Traverse City, Michigan
Teddy is owned by Tricia Weston, a wonderful first grade teacher at Willow Hill Elementary School. My twin daughters Emma and Kinsey, were lucky to be in Ms. Weston’s class last year. During those early days of the pandemic, when school was all virtual, Ms. Weston went out of her way to comfort her first graders and bring some much needed joy to their day by coming up with fun and entertaining videos of Teddy.
Each Tuesday, Teddy came alive with a riddle, joke, or an encouraging message to her first grade friends. He quickly became an engaging piece to virtual learning.
Her students enjoyed and looked forward to Teddy joining them each Tuesday morning to bring them a big smile to start their day of learning online.
These little videos that only lasted a few minutes were a highlight of my daughters’ week. And were something that I would hear them giggling about later in the day.
“I started doing the Teddy Tuesday videos because my little students love animals and seeing their teacher as a real person too. I added it so they could see Teddy and me in real life.”
- Ms. Weston
Teddy and Ms. Weston certainly brought joy to many those first scary and uncertain days last year. I know my daughters and I, along with so many others, were grateful for the little bit of sunshine that the Teddy Tuesday videos brought to our lives each week!
The painting above is the first painting in the Pets of the Pandemic series to honor sweet little Teddy and Ms. Weston. It is titled “Teacher’s Pet” and was inspired by the wonderful experience that my daughters had in Ms. Weston’s class. I hope you enjoy it!
I’d like to extend a special thank you to Ms. Weston for creating happiness in a time that was so needed.
***
Painting above by Heather Harrington
Titled: Teacher’s Pet
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
