My first time meeting Spanish teacher Allison Conley was on the side of the road one morning my eighth grade year. She was on the way to school with her two sons, Bennett and Miles Conley, when her truck ran out of gas. My mom and I had noticed her on the median on North 28 St. and stopped to help her. We had no idea who she was, but we wanted to help. She was so grateful and so sweet. 

When I got my schedule for ninth grade, I saw the name Allison Conley. She had not recognized me but was still the most nurturing and heartfelt teacher. You can tell from the first day of school how much she cares about her students. Since day one she has treated students more like family than just students. 

The very first day of school, she told us a heartbreaking story. She talked about her son AJ, who passed away 10 years ago. That was very emotional for her and my classmates and I felt incredibly bad. Even though this has impacted her a lot throughout the years, she still continues to be an amazing teacher every day. 

Conley described AJ as someone who was selfless. AJ is remembered for being his true authentic loving self, who always cared for others before he cared for himself. He was known for his affectionate and loving spirit, he was just like Conley.

There were two scholarships made in honor of AJ and the school he attended, four Corners Elementary. The AJ Conley Scholarship really represents who AJ was and how much he cared for others, so Conley helps signify the importance of the topic. She tries to build a bond with every single student no matter who it is, even if they aren’t in her class. 

“It could be anybody that gets it. And so, it is very important to me to have a good relationship with every single student because if they get the scholarship one day, you know, they are like part of my family now,” Conley shared. 

She treats all of her students like family, and she is so welcoming. I am happy to have her as a teacher and someone I can always look up to. She always thinks of everyone else before herself, just like AJ did.

I believe that Conley is a great teacher as well as an amazing mother, and she does not get enough credit. Even though some days can be hard, she still shows up every day and makes my class time very enjoyable. She has not only inspired me in Spanish culture, but also in other ways. There are many things that she does that are memorable and I couldn’t ask for a better Spanish teacher.