Matt’s Kindness Ripples On is happy to announce the Kindness Award Winner for August, 2026.
Congratulations to Robert Hirsh!
He will receive an award to help fund his acts of kindness project!
One Teacher, Lifelong Ripples
One of my favorite things about our Award winners is that they constantly remind me how much power ordinary people have to change someone else’s life. Sometimes it’s through a grand gesture. But more often, it’s through something much quieter, a listening ear, an encouraging word, or simply noticing when someone is struggling.
That’s exactly what happened in the classroom of fifth-grade teacher Robert (Bobby) Hirsch (Potomac, MD) at Bells Mill Elementary School.
When Bobby learned that one of his students struggled with anxiety and a stutter, he didn’t just see another child who needed a little extra support. He saw himself. You see, Bobby also had a stutter.
Instead of simply encouraging his student to keep trying, he shared something far more valuable – his own experience. He passed along the strategies, tools and lessons he wished someone had taught him much earlier in life. More importantly, he showed this young boy that a stutter doesn’t define who you are or limit what you can become.
What happened next is something every parent hopes for. Little by little, the boy’s confidence began to grow. For the first time, he felt brave enough to audition for a larger role in the school play, something his family never imagined he would even consider.
That kind of confidence doesn’t happen overnight.
It grows when someone believes in you before you’re able to believe in yourself.
But Bobby’s kindness didn’t stop there. He noticed when his student was feeling anxious. Instead of waiting for a problem to become bigger, he scheduled extra meetings to brainstorm ways to help him feel more comfortable and successful. He stayed in close communication with his mom, making sure she felt informed, supported and part of the team working together to help her son thrive.
As I read this nomination, one sentence really stayed with me: “I know my son is not the only child he supports this way.” Isn’t that the mark of a truly exceptional teacher? Not someone who changes one child’s life. Someone who quietly changes lives year after year, often without anyone outside the classroom ever knowing.
Bobby’s compassion doesn’t end when the school day is over. As a single father, he adopted a child who came from an incredibly difficult upbringing, giving him the stability, love and opportunities every child deserves. That tells me something important about Bobby. Kindness isn’t something he turns on when he walks into school each morning. It’s simply who he is.
Teachers are asked to wear so many hats – educator, mentor, counselor, cheerleader,
problem solver.
The very best ones somehow make every child feel seen. Bobby Hirsch is clearly
one of those teachers.
His story is also a beautiful reminder that our greatest challenges can become our greatest gifts. Because Bobby understood what it felt like to struggle with a stutter, he was uniquely able to help a young boy find courage. What once may have felt like a burden became the very thing that allowed him to change someone else’s life.
That is what kindness so often looks like. It’s using our own experiences, not just to overcome them, but to lift someone else along the way.
Thank you, Bobby, for believing in your students, for seeing their potential before they see it themselves and for reminding all of us that one caring teacher can change the trajectory of a child’s life. The ripples from your kindness will continue long after fifth grade ends.
