More than 20 years ago, in 2003, Katie O’Connor planned a wedding while working as a 3rd grade teacher at Avery Elementary School in Webster Groves, Missouri. She became Mrs. French after marrying Roger French. Several of her students attended her wedding, which made a profound impact on one student in particular.
Charles Frey struggled a bit in school, but in Katie French’s class, things were different, he told the Webster-Kirkwood Times. “In kindergarten through second grade, school was difficult for me. I was falling behind, and patience and compassion were not things I was given,” Charles said. “It all changed when I started third grade.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by KSDK News (@ksdknews) Katie French Made Learning Fun Charles Frey loved being in Katie French’s class not only because of the way she taught, but also because of how she made him feel.
“He was the first kid I’d had on the spectrum, but I tried to treat him like everybody else,” Katie told the Times. “He needed some extra encouragement, but I always held him to the same expectations as everyone else. I never thought a kid with autism couldn’t do that.” Charles said that when it came time to send out his own wedding invitations, his fiancée, Mary, told him to track down his former teacher.
The pair did some investigating and found the French family’s address. He sent the invitation, unsure of what to expect. Getting a “yes” RSVP made one of his wedding dreams come true. “If somebody is going to go out of their way to remember me and search me up, of course I’m going to come,” Katie French said.
Katie French changed Charles Frey’s life in the best way. They agreed that being together at his wedding was a full-circle moment for both of them. “You don’t always get to see your effort in action, how you’ve impacted kids, so it’s really amazing when you get to see how your hard work has meant something to someone,” Katie said.
“That’s why we get into teaching.” This story’s featured image can be found here.
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