Special Mention

Leeba: She fought the hardest battles; can’t we acknowledge that?

Mrs. Reuben: We can’t celebrate one girl’s achievements at everyone else’s expense.

Leeba

IT was Friday, which meant that the girls were restless, tapping pens, rustling papers, itching to hear that final bell. I was, too, honestly.

I was wrapping up the class when my eye landed on Shira.

Despite the undercurrent of jumpy energy in the room, she was sitting still. She wasn’t wearing that hoodie school rules prohibited — that was new. She had notes on her desk — also new. And she hadn’t asked to leave the room, or called out some snarky comment, or even put her head down to nap on her desk this morning, which was a minor miracle.

I passed her desk and caught her eye.