A teacher reunited with a former student he helped rescue and escape an abusive household. It was an emotional moment between the schoolteacher and the young woman he helped more than 20 years earlier. Watch the short but powerful and moving clip to hear how the observant teacher helped save the young woman’s life.
Teachers are people who have been placed in important positions. They interact with young people daily through their crucial and necessary work in the classroom. Teachers are molding the next generation. What they do and say in those classrooms will have repercussions for years.
As one clip posted on YouTube shows, observant teachers can and do literally save the lives of their students. That happened when a kindergarten teacher, Richard Goforth, noticed something unusual about one of his students, Ashley Mabry. He spotted a wound on the side of the little girl’s face.
As it turned out, Ashely was being abused by her biological father. She says she was told to lie and keep quiet about what was happening. But after Richard questioned his young student about her injury, she never returned to that abusive household. Ashely credits Richard with saving her life all those years ago as a kindergarten student.
“I came in, and I had a severe head injury,” she said. “And so, he questioned me about that, and we never had to go back home after that. He pretty much saved my life.”
Richard knew he had to do something and wouldn’t stop until her situation changed.
“Somebody had hurt one of my babies, flat out, and I didn’t, wasn’t going to stand for it,” Richard said.
The video adds that Ashley and her three siblings did not go back to that abusive household and were all later adopted by another family.
“She’s just been a blessing to us the whole time, and we’re so proud of her,” Ashely’s adoptive mother said.
Richard hopes that other children in a similar situation as Ashley realize and understand that they can talk to their teacher about what is happening to them.
Psalm 32:8 “I will give you knowledge, teaching you the way to go; my eye will be your guide.”