Michelle Reed has been a “Star Trek” fan for as long as she can remember, and her love of the sci-fi classic has seeped into her workplace.
A teacher at Doolen Middle School, Reed has been known to wear a “Star Trek” costume, and she incorporates the show into her math lessons.
After she casually mentioned her dream vacation — a “Star Trek” cruise — to her students, seventh-grader Mia Tucker began working to make it a reality.
The 12-year-old convinced the cruise line to reserve a cabin on the sold-out tour while she worked to get the word out through a GoFundMe campaign.
Mia has raised more than $1,000, but has a ways to go to get to the $7,000 goal.
“I just thought it would be really great if she got a reward after all of her wonderful years of teaching,” Mia said. She’d only been in Reed’s class for a few months when she undertook the effort, but has known Reed since she was a teacher to Mia’s older brother and cousin.
When Mia took the idea to her mother, Nanette — a teacher herself — Mia’s mom wasn’t so sure that her daughter would have much success.
“I told her, ‘Honey, they’re going to sell out this cruise in a heartbeat. They don’t need help selling these cabins.’ And she said, ‘We have to at least try; all they can do is say no.’”
Mia set off to write an email to the tour line, and the next day, Nanette received a follow-up call from an employee looking to see whether she knew what her daughter was up to. Nanette confirmed the story, and was met with enthusiasm and an agreement to put a cabin on hold given that it was a gift from students to their teacher.
Mia reached out to Doolen eighth-graders and Reed’s former students, some of who were able to go into high school with math credits under their belts, thanks to Reed’s advanced course.
“Happy travels, and thank you for getting me off to such a great start at UHS!,” one contributor wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The word was then spread on social media with people who have never met Reed but liked the idea of students supporting a teacher.
“This is unbelievable that this young child — at an age where most parents are thrilled that they get up, get dressed and do their homework — took this teacher’s dream and just didn’t hear it as an offhanded remark, but asked herself, ‘What do we have the power to do?’” said Doolen counselor Lisa Ungar, who helped Mia lure Reed into an “emergency meeting” last month to tell her.
“I was speechless, and the kids will tell you I’m not speechless ever,” said Reed, who has been teaching for seven years. “But I was rendered speechless by it, because it meant a lot to me. I always knew I had awesome kids, and it was a wonderful surprise. It was so above and beyond anything I could have imagined the kids being able to get together and do.”
The cruise conversation came about as part of Reed’s community-building efforts — getting to know her students, their interests and their experiences — something she says is key in a class in which she pushes her students hard.
Now that the cat is out of the bag, Mia will continue to try to raise funds to cover the complete cost of the 2017 cruise for Reed and her husband. If the goal is not met, Reed said she will find a way to make up the difference.
“I am overwhelmed with what this represents from the students and the parents and their confidence in me,” Reed said. “There are so many good teachers that it’s heartwarming and overwhelming that they think that much of me.”
Added Mia, “She’s been a great teacher for so long and so many teachers deserve this, but it’s nice that we can help at least one.”
