Mr. Quint taught us life lessons

To the editor:
    I just finished reading the writeup from Michael, Peter, and Matthew Quint. I am in awe of how such a thing could happen in my hometown, where we were raised and taught the value of dedication and hard work. They were not something to be tossed aside so easily.
    Everything the Quint boys put in their letter is true. Mr. Quint is an awesome athletics director and gym teacher. He'd be to every home game going that night and he'd be the last to leave. Night practices, he'd be there and never once were the lights turned off until we were all out of the gym and safely in our cars, before calling it a night and going home to his own family. If a ride didn't show up on time, he'd stay and wait with us, never once did he complain.
    The one thing the boys forgot to put in their letter is that Mr. Quint is not just a gym teacher and athletics director. To some of us he was more the that. To some of us he was a mentor, a caring adult that always took the extra time to listen. If you were having an off or bad day, he'd find a way to make you laugh and see the brighter side. He seem to always know when we had a big test and would follow through by asking what we got for a grade. He'd take the time to help a student with homework. He'd always encourage us to do our best and hold our heads high.
    Mr. Quint taught us life lessons as well. Those lessons, he not only taught with words of authority, but by example, living them every day himself. He taught us to respect one another, to tolerate other's differences, to never take ourselves too seriously (unless we needed to). He taught us that for as great as sports are, our first duty was to our education. He taught us to stand tall with our eyes forward, in order not to miss what was right in front of us. He taught us that playing fair and working hard would pay off in the end. Hopefully these lessons taught, we still use in our everyday lives.
    I know these things about him because for six years, two periods a day and then some, I was there. I witnessed these things and more, even though he didn't think I was paying attention. My one regret is that I no longer live in the district, so my children will never have him as a teacher.
    He is a teacher that cares beyond what is required of him. He cares about each and every student that has ever crossed his path. In return there are students past and present that care a whole lot about him and his future. He is an educator that is worth his weight in gold.
    Present and future parents of Houlton High School students need to ask themselves, if this decision of not renewing his contract is in the best interest of their children. If the answer is ‘no’, then please do not stand by and let this quietly happen to one of the greatest men I have ever had the privilege to know.
    Mr. Quint thank you for everything!
Stephanie Sargent Dumais