I always get nostalgic this time of year. There was something so special and magical about the beginning of a new school year. Brand new notebooks with clean, crisp pages. The fresh packs of pencils. The coveted big box of Crayolas that made you the queen of the classroom. To me, the start of the school year was exciting and magical, a welcomed end to the boredom of summer. One of my favorite things was getting to meet my new teacher. Of course, the bar had been set high in kindergarten by Mrs. Howard. She was the litmus test by which every teacher and most humans must pass, with her sense of humor, compassion, and encouragement.