New York School student Michael Reffner sits in his classroom as his teacher, Jim Rome, conducts class. Rome helped Michael get through a difficult transition after his family moved to Lawrence, and the boy is now making straight As.

Stacy Reffner and her three children have been in Lawrence for about a year, and it’s been a difficult transition.

Her children’s father left the family, prompting the move to Lawrence from Hesston, about 35 miles north of Wichita. The family was homeless for a while and her children, especially 8-year-old Michael, struggled in school.

“I was ill, so we battled a lot of issues getting them to school,” she said. “I was worried that he’d fail or not learn.”

Enter Jim Rome, Michael’s first-grade teacher last year at New York School.

“He really seemed to bond with me,” Rome said. “There’s no father at home and as a male here, I probably connected with him a little better than maybe he’s used to in school.”

Stacy saw the admiration her son had for Rome and was thankful for the attachment.

“I care about all of my kids, but with Michael being a boy and what happened with his dad, he had a positive role model and he embraced that in class,” she said. “It’s important to me that he had all these positive memories in the middle of everything.”

While Rome says Michael has always been a strong student academically, his unstable home environment had taken a toll.

“They were living in a number of place last year and that was hard on him,” he said. “Their living situation has improved. He’s hardly ever late now.”

Stacy says Michael gets upset if he doesn’t get perfect scores on his homework. “When comes home, he’s retaining what he learns and he’s making hundreds.”

Another break came for the family when Rome changed classes this year and began teaching second grade. Michael moved up with Rome, and Stacy was excited for her son to keep his favorite teacher.

“Is he going to high school, too?” she said with a laugh. “That’ll get Michael even more stable and even more on track for the next teacher.”

Stacy says she’s grateful for the attention Rome gave Michael during a difficult year, but as a teacher, Rome saw it as his job.

“I don’t remember being especially involved with Michael,” he said. “No more than any other kids.”

But his teaching skills made an impact on Stacy and her son.

“He looks up to Mr. Rome, and it’s just so cute,” she said. “He talks about Mr. Rome like he’s learning and it’s really important to me.”

Stacy also credits her daughters’ teachers for helping the family through their rough patch. And she praises the entire New York School community.

Third-grade teacher John Bode had her 9-year-old daughter Sierra and 6-year-old Rachel was in Kim Gamble’s kindergarten class.

“They all pitched in trying to help all of my kids make it,” she said. “I connected with all of them. All of my kids were struggling, and they’re working through those things.”

But the bond between Rome and Michael was especially important.

“I was more worried about him with self-esteem issues and believe in himself, right when he needs his dad,” she said. “This is a crucial time … and his dad was not the one doing that at the time.”

Rome, who has more than 30 years of teaching experience, says he’s flattered by Stacy’s praise of his work.

“I’m glad that I’ve been able to have an impact,” he said. “I’m glad somebody noticed.”