Just four months before being let go, Natalie Long-Stutts was one of eight educators in the district to be recognized with a Beginning Teacher of Promise Award.
She’d been nominated by her school, Parkland High, largely for her ability to build trust and relationships with her students.
“When you have those kids that come up and say ‘Hi’ every day, they come and talk to you, if they’re having a really bad day, you end up being that person they lean on,” Long-Stutts said. “I was able to create this kind of safe place and place of peace for all kids that don’t always have access to that.”…