To be quite frank, the writing of this article was pushed off for a long time. Partly because of AP testing, end of year parties, planning next year, and figuring out summer plans.
Another part is that perhaps there’s not much to say anymore about Mr. T that we don’t already know about. He’s from Atlanta, Georgia, with Ethiopian parents. He has 2 sons and a wife, and together they form the XY&Z family!
But deep down, there may have been another reason: no one in the Law Magnet family is prepared to say goodbye to our beloved Mr. Tadesse.
From Business Major to Beloved Teacher
After seven years at the Law Magnet, Mr. Tadesse has become more than just a teacher. For many students, he became a mentor, role model, and someone who genuinely cared about the people around him.
Interestingly, teaching was not originally part of his plan. Mr. Tadesse was originally a business major before he began volunteering as a tutor in local Atlanta public schools and refugee centers within his community. Through those experiences, he gradually developed an interest in education and the profound impact teachers can have on students’ lives. While walking through Emory University’s campus, he came across a Teach for America recruitment sign that ultimately pushed him toward teaching. Learning that less than 2% of the nation’s teachers were Black males further motivated him “to be a part of that change.”
That desire to make a difference became clear throughout his time at the Law Magnet. Over the past seven years, Mr. Tadesse has significantly contributed to shaping various aspects of student life and culture within the school. Programs and initiatives such as College Transition, Financial Math, Link Crew, and Legal Pad have impacted countless students and helped create spaces where students could feel supported both academically and personally.
“I am proud to leave the Law Magnet knowing that a lot of the initiatives and organizations I started will continue to exist, thrive, and impact students positively,” he shared.
Even students who never had Mr. Tadesse in class have likely experienced something he helped create. Through Link Crew activities, field days, basketball games, and school traditions, he helped build a stronger sense of community within the Law Magnet.
Oh the Memories
When asked about his favorite memory at the Law Magnet, Mr. Tadesse said it was difficult to choose just one. However, the annual Link Crew field day and basketball games stood out to him because they brought all grade levels together. “I feel it is one of the few times all grade levels come together and just have a good time,” he said.
Beyond the programs and activities, many students will remember Mr. Tadesse for the way he treated people. When asked what lessons he hoped students learned from him, he responded with the quote, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Mr. Tadesse taught his students many life lessons and each student carries special memory with him.
Here are some students’ favorite memories with him:
“Chatting in the morning before school since his classroom was a safe space, as well as the Legal Pad Party”- Adriana Bautista
“When he did April Fools’ that my SAT test didn’t process through…almost gave me a heart attack!”- Briana Candido.
“His last day of school in his classroom, when we were “confessing our crimes” to Mr. T (things we did secretly behind his back). Everyone was laughing, and it was bittersweet.” – Michelle UC.
“One mic” – Iya McMormick
Whether it was checking in on students, encouraging them, or creating welcoming spaces throughout the school, Mr. Tadesse emphasized kindness and genuine care for others.
Even the smallest details about Mr. Tadesse feel different in hindsight. For example, many students only recently realized they had been pronouncing his last name incorrectly for years — saying “Tade-see” instead of “Tade-sah.” It’s a small thing, but it reflects something bigger: how easily someone can become so familiar in a community that even the details about them feel automatic, until the moment comes to say goodbye and everything is noticed more carefully.
A New Chapter
Reflecting on his experience at the Law Magnet, Mr. Tadesse shared that the faculty and students will always hold a special place in his heart. He described Law Magnet students as “inspiring” and “resilient,” adding that he learned just as much from them as they learned from him. His only “growth,” he joked, was “not having a window for seven years!”
Now, Mr. Tadesse is beginning a new chapter. He will continue pursuing his passion for equity in financial literacy access and education through his work with the nonprofit Next Gen Personal Finance, where he will serve as a curriculum designer, creating engaging lessons, materials, activities, and games for high school students and teachers across the country.
While the Law Magnet community is excited for this next chapter in his life, it is difficult to imagine the school without him. Change is hard and almost always guaranteed. But if there’s one lesson Mr. T taught his students, it’s to embrace change. Even as he leaves the classroom behind, the lessons he gave his students will stay with them for years to come.
Some teachers simply teach classes. Others leave behind traditions, opportunities, and communities that continue long after they are gone. Mr. Tadesse leaves behind all three.
Goodbye Mr. Tadesse! Thank you for your contributions to us here at the Legal Pad and good luck on your next adventure! 🙂
