I wrote this several years ago, but much of it is true today.  Mrs. Marion Williams Gregory, my fourth grade teacher, is still teaching in NY after being a elementary teacher for 46 years. She inspired me to be a teacher myself.  I am now in my 32nd year of teaching. She was "my teacher."  She inspired me by having high expectations coupled with excellent teaching before it was fashionable. She didn't need the state education department to tell her what we needed to know.  She already knew.  She emphasized that through hard work and a good attitude that anything could be accomplished. She expected the very best and I did all I could do to meet her challenge.  She was the first Black teacher in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.  As a white fourth grader in 1957, I remember coming home and telling my parents about this smart, exciting, wonderful, and beautiful teacher I now had at Scudder Avenue School in Copiague, NY. I was so impressed with her because she cared about us by demanding excellence from each and every student.  I remember my parents wanting to meet this "Miss Williams" that I kept talking about. I remember them coming home from the first PTO open house.  I stayed up late that night waiting to hear what my parents thought about Miss Williams, my teacher.  My parents were very impressed with Miss Williams, but I remember my mother taking me aside and quietly asking me why I never mentioned that Miss Williams was black.  As a fourth grader, I honestly never considered her color and/or race to be important.  After all, she was "my teacher."  She was the one who taught me how to do the times table and love it, how to spell, how to read better, and much more.  She cared about me as a person.  Why would her skin color be important to me, it certainly wasn't important to her?  What she did for me I try to do for the 900 fifth and sixth grade students I teach each year in South Carolina.  She is still my inspiration.  I would love to share "the love of learning and teaching" Mrs. Williams gave me with others.  We both have wonderful story to tell. Thanks for listening.  Mrs. Williams Gregory taught for 53 years.  I am now in my 48 year of teaching.  She has been my mentor and role model.  She has a permanent and special place in my heart.  As my Mom used to say when our family of ten children and Mom and Dad got into the car for a trip, "May Jesus, Mary and Joseph be with us [and Mrs. Williams Gregory] on our way."  Thanks for allowing me to share a memory of this wonderful lady.