Janá wrote the following during her new teacher inservice on 08/27/1999.

"I want my students to say that I cared about them.  I want them to say that they learned a lot and had fun learning.  I want them to say that I was willing to do whatever I needed to to help them understand.  I want them to say that I showed them respect and that I was fair.  I want them to say that I expected a lot out of them and gave them the opportunity to succeed.  I want them to say that I was always available when they needed help."

From her first day teaching high school special education to her last day teaching sixth grade, Janá stuck to these princples.  Many of Janá's students and teaching colleagues have told me this is exactly how she was.

(Note: This was Janá's sample essay for the last project she did with her 6th Grade students.  After the students came up with their own list of rules, they had to pick the three most important rules to write about.  This project will be her legacy she left her students.)

Life can sometimes throw me a curve and try to send me down a path I don’t want to go.  It is during these times it is important for me to think about the rules that I use to guide my decisions.  These three rules give me the strength to make the hard decisions to keep me headed down the right path.

One rule I use is, “Your success is greatly influenced by your attitude.”  When I have found myself working on something and not being successful, I have discovered that those are the times I am working on a task with a bad attitude.  Once I make an intentional decision to change my attitude about what I need to do, I have then been able to successfully complete the task.  A side effect is that the attitude I bring to a task is going to affect those I have working around me.  So not only does my attitude affect my success, it affects those around me also.

The second rule I live my life by is, “Rumors are like feathers in a pillow.  Once they are scattered, it is impossible to get them all back.”  Many times I have said things that I wish I could get back.  Making judgments about people, or responding in anger by telling someone something about another person is one way of spreading rumors.  The problem is, once I have said something, those rumors are going to fly freely in all directions.  It will be impossible for me to go find everyone who has heard or been affected by what I have said.  It is just like the feathers of a pillow being blown around by the wind.  You never know where they are going to end up.

The last rule I have is, “Trust is a strong bond that is easily broken.”  I spent my life building trust with many people who are close to me.  Once I have established trust with a person, I have a person who is there to support me.  When someone has established trust with me, I know I can provide them the support they need.  Even though the bond of trust is very strong, it can be easily broken in an instant.  When someone lies or is deceitful, that bond is instantly broken.  Once that bond is broken, it might take years to rebuild that bond.  I may never be able to have the same relationship with that person as I did before.  I must make sure I carefully preserve the bond of trust with others and guide my decisions to ensure long-lasting trust.

These three rules help guide all the decisions I make in my life.  Without these rules, I would be lost and find myself in many unsuccessful relationships.  With these rules, I have a firm foundation that I can fall back on when stressful or difficult situations come my way.  I know I have reached the point in my life that I am at today because I have stayed firm to these three basic rules.  I will leave you with a bonus rule that helps me remember to use these three rules.  “Now’s the time to think, think, think; when you have a problem think, think, think!”

1. Mrs. Kuest is always right.
2. Don’t argue with Mrs. Kuest, she always wins.
3. We are all connected.
4. Drama belongs in the theatre not the classroom.
5. You only have one “but[t],” and you are already using it.
6. If you make sure you are doing what you should be doing, we won’t have any problems.
7. Excuses are like armpits, everyone has a couple and they stink.
8. You don’t have to do anything, just make sure you are ready to accept the consequences.
9. We walk in a silent line to show respect to the classes we pass by.
10. Respond with a kind word. It makes people wonder what you are up to.
11. Only you can stop a rumor.
12. You’re not disqualified for falling, you’re only disqualified when you quit. DON'T QUIT!!
13. The best 6th grade hygiene is a daily shower and deodorant.
14. Integrity is non-negotiable.
15. Don’t burn bridges, you might need them later.
16. Can’t never did anything!!
17. Rumors are like feathers in a pillow. Once they are scattered, it is impossible to get them all back.
18. Your success is greatly influenced by your attitude.
19. Whether you say you can or you can’t, you’re right.
20. You get out what you put in.
21. Non-verbal language speaks louder than words.
22. Be the best you, you can be.
23. Hurtful words leave marks.
24. Positive words heal.
25. “Do or do not, there is no try”- Yoda
26. Positive thoughts bring positive results.
27. Trust is a strong bond that is easily broken.
28. First impressions are impossible to replace. Make sure the first impression people get of you is your true personality.
29. Don’t judge people by what you see. There is more to a person than what is on the outside.
30. Life is full of up and down. Be prepared to hang on tight and enjoy the ride.
31. Think for yourself.
32. Make choices that will get you where you want to go.
33. Set a goal and do whatever you have to do to get there.
34. Shoot for the moon. If you miss, you will land among the stars.
35. Don’t give away your power.
36. Don’t make the same mistake twice.
37. Give people an opportunity to change.
38. Now’s the time to think, think, think. If you have a problem think, think, think.
39. The only time you are learning something is when you make a mistake. When you do something right the first time, you are just reviewing.
40. Don’t say anything you don’t want repeated.
41. Once you write something, it can never be taken back.
42. Know when to say “No.”
43. Do a good turn daily.
44. Think faster than you talk.
45. Trust but verify.
46. Don’t believe everything you hear.
47. Always use your manners.
48. Just because something was done to you, doesn’t make it okay for you to do.
49. Own up to your mistakes.
50. Ask clarifying question to ensure understanding.
51. Emotions are like carbonated water. If you keep them contained they get shaken by life’s circumstances and explode out when you least expect them to.