.jpg)
UA+Ed Grant in Action: Tremont Elementary Celebrates 25 years of beloved book, Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden
- May 15
- 3 min read
Updated: May 16
Twenty-five years ago, a simple act of gratitude at Tremont Elementary School turned into something far more lasting than anyone could have imagined.
Tremont parent Edith Pattou, wanted to create a meaningful end-of-year gift for her daughter’s Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Spitzer. Inspired by the impact Mrs. Spitzer had on her students, Pattou wrote a heartfelt story as a thank-you. She depicted Mrs. Spitzer as the gardener of her flowers (students) tending to each flower with individual care and attention. The book gained attention as a tribute to the dedication, care, and lasting influence of educators and the story became the beloved children’s book Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden, officially published on May 14, 2001.
The widely recognized story has become a special part of Tremont Elementary’s history. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the book’s publication, and in line with Tremont’s motto “Growing Together,” students and staff have been working hard to prepare for the big day. UA+Ed was proud to support the celebration of Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden through two special grant-funded projects both of which focused on Community Connections and Arts, two of the foundation’s areas of impact.
The first UA+Ed grant funded a collaborative ceramic tile installation organized and executed by art teachers Erin Masters and Ryan Lott. The tile project allowed every student and staff member to design and draw themselves as a flower on a tile. Students were encouraged to be creative and thoughtful in how they represented themselves. 4th grader Charlotte S. said she chose a sunflower because she is “tall and bright,” while S’hani F. drew a tropical flower because she was born in Hawaii. Josh T. designed his tile with a cactus because he said “every time I go to a flower shop with my Dad, I look at the cactuses first…it feels unique to me.” Tiles were glazed and fired, and will be installed this summer as a commemorative wall display honoring the school community and the lasting impact of Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden.
Alongside Community Connections and Arts, the second UA+Ed grant also weaved in another important UA+Ed Impact Area, Communications. This grant provided 5th grade students the opportunity to work alongside a resident musician with the help of music teacher, Tino Benedetti, to compose an original song. Inspired by the book’s themes of growth, community and learning together, students brainstormed ideas, created lyrics, composed music, rehearsed and recorded the original song. On the final day of recording, there was a sense of pride among the student musicians. Jersey N. commented that it had been really cool working together with fellow students to create the song, noting that it was “especially cool learning about Mrs. Spitzer – she was a teacher HERE!”
On May 14, 2026, Tremont Elementary students, staff, retired staff, and alumni joined special guest, Author Edith Pattou Emery to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the publication. The assembly started off with a very special pre-recorded interview conversation between Mrs. Pattou and Mrs. Spitzer. Mrs. Pattou shared how the book came to be and answered some student questions. Students were engaged and enthusiastic to learn the new original song commemorating Mrs. Spitzer’s garden and share their beautiful flower tiles with visitors.
Art teacher Erin Masters was the leading advocate for the 25th Celebration of the beloved book, which has a special place in her heart. Mrs. Masters received a copy upon her graduation, days prior to learning that she’d be placed at Tremont Elementary for her student teaching. Mrs. Masters said of the celebration and activities leading up to it, "UA+Ed is truly a champion of student opportunity and voice. Support provided from the Education Foundation made the Mrs. Spitzer's Garden 25th Anniversary art experience possible and because of it, each student and staff member's work will leave a lasting and permanent reminder on the walls here at Tremont." During the 2025-26 school year, UA+Ed grants have funded projects at all of the UA Elementary Schools, providing authentic learning experiences and meaningful opportunities for young learners.
Mrs. Spitzer's Garden is available for purchase at Cover to Cover Bookstore in Upper Arlington.
The Upper Arlington Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides access to meaningful opportunities for students that are beyond the budget of the Upper Arlington School District. Established in 1985, UA+Ed is permanently structured to fund programs and projects today and for generations to come. The Upper Arlington Alumni Association is an important part of the foundation and keeps graduates connected, engaged, and motivated to pay it forward.
