A beloved Buffalo Public School teacher is being remembered for her work and dedication to students. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says Buffalo's Uncrowded Queens Instituteestablished "Vanessa's Corner" inside the library of Early Childhood Center School #82.
A group of pre-kindergarten through 4th grade from School 82 were selected to participate in the special dedication.
Miss Anderson taught pre-k at their school for 12-years of her nearly 30-year career in the city school district. She died in 2016. Anderson is being remembered for her devotion to educating young children. Some of the students recall specific details about her.
“What do you remember about her?” asked Buckley. “That her favorite pop is Pepsi,” a student answered. “I remember when I saw some tall and it reminded me of her because she was always so tall,” replied another student.
"She was a fantastic teacher,” remarked Barbara Seals Nevergold, co-founder, Uncrowned Queens.
Seals Nevergold, who also serves as Buffalo School Board president, taught Anderson at Clinton Junior High School and followed her lengthy career.
“And I think the fact that the children still remember – she made an impression on the children. She was a community remember and just loved children,” said Seals Nevergold.
“It was a delight to see the young people respond,” noted Peggy Brooks Bertram, co-founder, Uncrowned Queens.
Brooks Bertram said they’ve now have added Anderson to their 'community builders' website as an Uncrowned Queen in Buffalo to be used for teaching lessons in the classroom.
“And we’re so pleased to have her added to the site. That’s so valuable. But what I learned today, again, is looking at the young people talking about her. I mean that’s really fantastic,” said Brooks Bertram.
“It’s wonderful. It’s very emotional to see them remember somebody that they loved and it was their first teacher, first experience in school and that they have such a good experience coming from their teacher,” responded Kristen Mazur, assistance principal, School 82.
There are just under 400-students at School 82. “When my mom was little and mostly all my family was little, they all came to this school and Miss Anderson was all their teacher,” recalled a student.
“I remember I used to sleep in her class and she would standing in front of me,” another student reflected.
The Uncrowned Queens is donating 400books to the school, 300 from Project Flight. 100 of those books will be dedicated to Vanessa's Corner. The students were excited to select a free book of their choice from a large stack.
“What book did you select?” questioned Buckley. “Five Minute Snuggle,” replied a student. “Five Minute Spooky stories book by Disney Channel,” responded another student.
Photos of Anderson's photos stand on-top of a book shelf in the school library to carry on her teaching legacy for young city school children.
