In a world where folks are rushing to buy the latest gadget for Christmas, Michelle Dixon received a gift worth more than any amount of money on the planet.
Her son, Toren, told her he loves her.
On the surface, that might not seem like anything unusual. After all, that phrase is quite common.
However, not in Toren's world. In fact, speaking had not ever been a part of the 6-year-old Coder Elementary kindergarten student's life as he born with non-verbal autism.
With the help of two caring Aledo ISD employees, however, Toren surprised his mom last Christmas with the words, "I love you mommy." Not even Santa himself could bring as precious a gift if he'd had his elves focusing on nothing else all year.
But bus driver Tom Black and his aide Shelly Golden believed there was more to Toren than a silent youngster. So they began working with him with the goal of getting him to utter those words his mother had longed to hear.
For this, Black and Golden have been nominated for an Aledo ISD Circle of Greatness Award in the Auxiliary category. The nomination came from Toren's mother, in fact.
"This year my son rode the bus of Mr. Tom and Ms. Shelly. We just wanted to reach out and say they are amazing," Michelle wrote. "I waited four years to hear those words.
"Everyday they make him excited to ride the bus and go to school. They make us feel safe when he gets on that bus. We know he will make it to his destination with a smile. I have watched them sing and dance with the kids. It is one of the best things I have ever experienced. They just have pure love for their careers and the kiddos they take care of."
Black said they worked with Toren by "continually waving at him and trying to work with him with small talk and sing to him."
While this was Black's first time to work with a nonverbal student, Golden had done so before as an aide to a former bus driver. She said a trust was established then and again with Toren by simply calling him by name, playing with him, smiling, and working to cheer him up if he was upset.
"Ask him, 'Are you ready for school?' and to go home or see mom or dad?'" Golden said.
Golden said they also worked with Toren to say hi and bye to each student boarding and exiting the bus.
"He is learning more words everyday it seems," she said.
Black said another breakthrough was when Toren's brother said "Bye Bubba" and Toren repeated it back to him. They also worked with Toren to get him to tell his mother goodbye every morning.
"It melted our hearts to hear him talk," Golden said.
But the most special moment was when Toren said those four words to his mother, Black said. He called the occasion a "very emotional and proud moment," adding that he felt "like part of the family."
But then, Black said much of the success with Toren came from treating him like his own child.
"I would do this for any child and treat them like my own," he said.
"He is my buddy and makes me feel good that I feel like I’m doing my job and helping these kids," Golden said.
“Our bus drivers are often the first people from the district that many of our students see in the morning and last people from the district many see in the afternoon,” Aledo ISD Transportation Director Ranjan George said. “They take pride in keeping our students safe and also in getting to know them and caring for them.
"There is no doubt Tom and Shelly truly care for Toren, and I am so glad they were recognized for this honor.”
Other Circle of Greatness nominees so far this year are:
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