MELBOURNE, Fla. — Faith is important to A+ Teacher Suellen Roselle. She encourages love and acceptance in a setting where students can explore new ideas and learn at the same time.

Roselle says it is important for her students to share what they are thankful for during the school day.

“Oh, my gosh. It’s everything. Our whole motto in this class is love God, love people and they’re learning how to love God and love people and how to talk about the things that they’re thankful for. Things that they want to ask for,” she says.

Roselle has been teaching at Parkhurst Academy for four years and she is thankful to have had a career in the classroom for 24 years.

While her students have special needs, she focuses on their abilities.

She says, “They’re like uniquely gifted. Some of them are super gifted in one area and others are gifted in another area. They’re just amazing.”

During a Spectrum News 13 visit, she spoke with her students about the Fifth Commandment to honor thy father and thy mother.

“They’re all unique thinkers. They’re not all exactly the same. They’re all different,” she said.

But they all have one thing in common and that is a genuine love for her.

One student gave her a hug as she said, “We have to honor God. We have to honor other people. These children need to know God. I want to teach them math. I want to teach them reading and all that, but I want to teach them to love God and to love people. That is the most important thing that we can teach them.”

Roselle said, “I can’t imagine not teaching in a Christian school and not being able to talk about God all day long.”