Transcription
My name is Andrew, and I'm the Southlands Director of Alumni Relations. It is my honor and privilege to preside over this commencement. She was the voice of Southland; I can still hear her voice now, as she spoke on the loudspeaker to the students.
Some people possess a sense of seriousness, but also softness and serenity. Mrs. Kid was someone with a gentle leadership touch. No matter where she was, she could instantly take charge. Andrea was very good at giving instructions, and she was always very, very clear. No one misunderstood what Mrs. Kid was saying. But sometimes she'd get on the loudspeaker and say, "You know, I made a mistake, students." I don't think Miss Kid was ever unclear. Kids would get quiet, and she'd say something nice to them, and she got their attention. She had a gentle way of getting children to listen. I think she always had a certain presence that permeated our school. People know her voice, but I always felt her character and spirit, and I think it still exists in our classrooms today.
The number one thing she had was a love and passion for students with disabilities. She was their advocate. As a lot of the kids are saying, Mrs. Kid had a positive influence. She was always my advocate, whenever I needed her, academically or socially. She was always there for me, supported me, and gave me powerful words, wisdom, and advice that still sticks with me today. She loved the children; you know, everybody was the children she loved to work with, to guide. She could get kids to do anything with her smile and the fact that they knew she cared. Going into her office every day just to say hi, she always had a way of making me feel special. She encouraged me to be the best I can be; she kept me intact. She came every year to make sure they had the support and resources. That voice, that sense of confidence and reassurance, she brought to the students here. She was a leader among teachers.
I will always remember how Mrs. Kid could make her uniform look like a fashion statement. She was the queen of accessories! She had a unique style; a whole wardrobe of eyeglasses, and she would wear eyeglasses to match her outfits. She had earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets. She loved shoes—every day she had on a different pair that still accessorized our uniforms. I always enjoyed seeing what she was going to look like every day because every day she made her uniform look spectacular. And by doing that, I think she was also a great role model for the kids. I know she wore many hats, but no hat changed who she was. She certainly enjoyed herself. The Alumni Relations Director position pulls in everything she had been involved in while she was at Southland. Even now, there are kids that come back, that have graduated, they still miss her. She really went above and beyond to connect with us alumni, to check in on us, to make us feel like, you know, even though you're away, Southland still… I’ve seen Southland come from a vision and a dream to a reality, to a full implementation. Our foundation, our stability, who we are, is a reflection of the values that Mrs. Kid had. Southland would not have been the same without you.
The biggest part of her legacy is that the school is for all children. The person I am today is because of her. There's not a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about her. Because of Miss Kid, I am the confident person I am today, and I learned how to be a true advocate for other people. She knew that they could do far beyond what they thought they were capable of doing. The voice that everything is going to be okay—I think that's really the memory, the legacy that she brings through her voice. Her personality, her commitment, and her belief in young people—oh, the places that you can go! She was a friend, she was a confidante, she was a person that I trusted. I just want to say thank you.