Dear Mr. Zappala, I will never forget sitting in your office, wondering what in the world our family might be getting into by stepping toward independent study at MEA, and sharing with you what wasn't working at our traditional school. I half-expected scrutinizing questions from you and judgment about our family's quirky decision-making, but what you gave me was incredible reassurance that we were taking a step in a much healthier direction for our boys (Marco and Vasco). Thank you for taking the time to hear out and care for each and every family member and/or student who has passed through your office. Thank you for encouraging me to hope in what was possible at MEA and for giving me confidence to pursue parent-teaching at home. Thank you, too, for teaching MEA students to value kindness and respect for one another, and particularly for teaching the older students at MEA to look out for and set a positive example for the younger students. It's amazing that the youngest students and their families can feel comfortable on a K-12 campus! You have everything to do with that. Thank you for caring so much that Kindness and Empathy became part of our distance-learning curriculum for 3rd grade this year. Could you possibly change your mind and stay at MEA??? It's hard to imagine MEA without you. Thank you so much for all you've done. Best regards and wishes, The Klap Family