Last spring at the Jackson’s at 8th and Fort in Boise’s North End, I ran into Kali Kurdy, my 11th grade economics teacher at Borah High School. We said hello and small talked. It was about an hour after saying goodbye when I was struck with a sense of regret — I wish I had communicated that her hard work all those years ago was especially meaningful to me.
Mrs. Kurdy was a teacher who would go all in when a student showed interest and aptitude in her field and, even more importantly, she was liberal with encouragement and guidance and positive enthusiasm in the learning process. I wish I could remember more specifically about what made her so effective as a teacher, but when I think about it now I’ve determined it was simply her effort and time — she gave them generously.
As a high schooler I looked up to her hard work and considered her a mentor. Today I feel the same.