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During her reign as the 2009 Utah Teacher of the Year, Dilworth Elementary's Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh has met Barack and Michelle Obama, participated in an Alabama space camp, and traveled to New York City, Dallas, Washington D.C. as a representative of the state's teachers. She's met Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and she believes her award has given her a "credible voice" to speak up for teachers and students.

The 31-year teaching veteran got yet another unique opportunity when she became a published author recently. Gallagher-Fishbaugh -- and every other state's teacher of the year -- were asked to contribute stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales.

When she got the assignment, the second-grade teacher knew exactly what she would write about.

A girl, who Gallagher-Fishbaugh refers to as "Sarah," immediately came to mind. The Salt Lake City teacher wrote about being reunited with Sarah after 10 years in her story, "A Chance Encounter."

"Her eyes met mine and she threw her arms around me and said, 'Mrs. G., it's me, Sarah, and I'm still writing!'" Gallagher-Fishbaugh wrote. "The memories came flooding back. You see, Sarah was never a student in my classroom. Sarah's mother had abandoned her, and her biological father was absent from her life. She was sent to live with foster parents the year I met her. Sarah was often in trouble and often in the office."

Gallagher-Fishbaugh met Sarah during one of those trips to the office.

"She was furiously writing in her notebook," Gallagher-Fishbaugh continued. "I introduced myself to her and asked her what she was writing. Sarah shared her story with me. Her writing spoke to me. It filled my heart and I knew it was healing for her to put her thoughts on paper. Every morning before school she would come into my classroom and we would work on her writing skills."

The teacher learned Sarah had traveled a rough road, but she'd gotten her life on track and planned to study journalism at Salt Lake Community College.

"Driving home," Gallagher-Fishbaugh wrote, " I could not help but realize the tremendous impact for both good and bad that teachers have upon their students. Taking the time to connect with a child has the power to truly change that child's life. That's why I teach."

Gallagher-Fishbaugh is one of 101 contributors to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales . Fifty-five slots were reserved for each state's 2009 Teacher of the Year.

"We put this book on our schedule because we know that teachers are under intense pressure these days, what with budget cuts, standardized testing, and the increased regulations of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is not very popular in the education community," said Chicken Soup for the Soul publisher Amy Newmark. "It's time to remind teachers how much we appreciate them and how important their work is."

Gallagher-Fishbaugh has met her fellow state teachers of the year at various events throughout the country, forming a tight bond with the group.

"It's an ongoing relationship," she said. "I have 55 lifelong friends."

She said it was "so cool" to receive the book, which was released Feb. 2.

"It's been wonderful to read the stories of my fellow colleagues, because it reinforces that there are so many outstanding teachers out there," Gallagher-Fishbaugh said. "We don't hear a lot of good things about teachers right now. I believe in my heart and soul that the few teachers that are not doing good are in the minority."

She wanted to share Sarah's story because it's a reminder.

"We just never know as teachers what the slightest, smallest little action, gesture, will have on a child's life."

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