Actress Bryce Dallas Howard traveled to DonorsChoose headquarters in New York City in late July to honor the high school English teacher who changed her life. Nearly three decades after sitting in his classroom, Howard still calls him Mr. Scotch and credits him with helping her see beyond her learning disabilities to discover her capabilities as a student and storyteller.
The emotional reunion captured a moment that has stayed with Howard throughout her career as an actress and filmmaker. When the two embraced, Scotch immediately recalled his first impression of Howard as a high school sophomore, describing her as having "had the greatest laugh, the greatest courage, and the greatest joy," according to Upworthy.
Scotch offered a lesson in etymology during their conversation, explaining that "the definition of a sophomore is 'wise fool,'" Howard told Upworthy. He characterized her younger self as "completely worldly and completely innocent at the same time."
Howard acknowledged her privileged access to quality education and supportive teachers, but she also revealed that the classroom presented significant challenges for her. Language arts proved particularly difficult.
"I had a lot of learning disabilities," Howard told Upworthy. "By the time I was in ninth grade, right before meeting you, I was in special [education]. I just couldn't wrap my head around language."
A pivotal moment arrived during her first week in Scotch's sophomore English class. After submitting an essay, Howard was asked to stay after class for a private conversation. She immediately feared the worst, expecting to learn she would be held back again. Instead, Scotch praised her writing and asked whether she had considered pursuing publication.
"It was a huge moment for me," Howard recalled through tears, speaking to Upworthy. "Being a student who has any difficulties with learning, it's really beautiful to meet a teacher who sees your potential and can see beyond your challenges."
Addressing the Resource Gap
Howard's experience illustrates what becomes possible when educators have adequate resources and time to invest in individual students. However, many teachers face a different reality. Throughout his career, Scotch has regularly purchased field trips, food, classroom supplies, and guest speakers with his own money to provide students with enriching educational experiences.
DonorsChoose works to address this funding gap by connecting public school teachers with donors who can support specific classroom needs. Founded in 2000, the organization has facilitated classroom support exceeding 3.5 million projects and benefiting over 1 million educators across the nation. Over its 26-year history, the platform has channeled close to $2 billion toward public school classrooms.
"Supporting teachers emotionally and mentally—all those things are crucial," Howard told Upworthy. "But when it's something like kids in a classroom needing supplies, we need to find ways to do that so teachers are not having to do that themselves."
Research demonstrates that providing classroom resources benefits teacher retention as well as student outcomes. Educators who secure funding through DonorsChoose show a 22 percent lower rate of leaving the teaching profession, according to studies cited by the organization.
A Career Built on Encouragement
Howard suspects many of Scotch's former students consider him their favorite teacher, given his classroom presence, personal investment in students, and reputation for being demanding yet fair. For Howard personally, his impact proved transformative. She progressed from special education English courses at the start of high school to receiving the English department award before graduation.
Howard credits Scotch's influence with shaping her professional success. His enthusiasm for writers including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Barbara Kingsolver helped Howard develop storytelling and creative skills that later served her career in acting and filmmaking.
Beyond academic and professional achievements, Scotch's teaching gave Howard something more fundamental: confidence in her own intelligence and capabilities.
"You're like the first person who really saw what was possible for me," Howard told Upworthy, her voice breaking with emotion. "Thank you for making me feel like I could be an intelligent person, and that I could keep up. Thank you for seeing me as a whole person."
