8 February 2023

Hi Molly,

This is Kate Spectrr. You taught our son, Max, in his Junior year at ETHS-2003-2004. He studied Catcher in the Rye in your class and it changed him as a student. He opened up in discussions and felt that he could contribute. He relaxed about his writing and took chances, because you encouraged him. You provided a space where he felt he had a voice. His Junior research paper was on Leni Riefenstahl. And I saved it! Our whole family studied her! We watched her films.  Max was presented with a coffee table sized book about her as a gift from us. The paper topic was something about the influence of media. At ETHS, 2 out of his 4 English teachers were excellent. And you were one of them! Thank you! Oh! And! We bought your book and you autographed it! It is part of our library,  today.

Max went to American University in DC, and was an international studies major. He graduated in 2009.  In 2013, he got his Master’s degree. He was a consultant for various agencies that deal with threat reduction. In 2016, he was accepted into the FBI and began his training at Quantico. He graduated and spent 6 years in Puerto Rico. During that time, he also trained to become a SWAT team member. In September, he moved to San Diego. He has a serious girlfriend who made the move with him from PR. I see them heading towards marriage- but one day at a time!

I get your emails and read about your novel today. Thank  you so much for being in that space at that time for Max. He blossomed. 

Fondly, Kate Spector

Hi Molly, You taught our son in his Junior year of High School in 2003 and ‘04. He studied Catcher in the Rye in your class and it changed him as a student. He opened up in discussions and felt that he could contribute. He relaxed about his writing and took chances, because you encouraged him. You provided a space where he felt he had a voice. Thank  you so much for being in that space at that time for Max. He blossomed. KS, mother of student