Harry Dao attended Burnett 14 years ago and took his knowledge to great heights, as he graduated as Dobie High School's valedictorian in 2000 and recently earned his degree in molecular biology from Yale University.

In December, during a conversation between Jones and Dao's younger brother, the wheels were set in motion for a reunion between Jones and her stellar former student.

"I recognized Henry because he looked just like Harry and I knew they had to be brothers," said Jones, who is now principal at L.F. Smith Elementary School. "I was Henry's judge for an interview and he was telling me how he wanted to be like his brother and follow in his footsteps. Later, I asked for Harry's e-mail address and gave Henry my card to give to him."

Dao remembered his third grade teacher very well. Jones had made learning fun for him with Garfield coloring sheets and in-class Bluebonnet book competitions.

"Mrs. Jones was the first teacher to really get me interested in reading and studying," said Dao. "We had competitions to see who could read the most books off of the Bluebonnet list and then she would make it a really big deal for the winner. That was a very encouraging way to get me to read."

Jones inspired Dao at a young age to become so interested in school. Even his mother Hong Kim Dao remembers Jones because she noticed a difference in Dao and his study habits when he was in the third grade.

"I will remember Mrs. Jones forever," she said. "She was the one who helped Harry become so successful. He wasn't an excellent student in the first and second grade until he had Mrs. Jones."

"As a third grader, Harry was a very good team player. He always worked so well with everyone else," said Jones. "He was very diligent and school was always his priority."

Dao and Jones renewed their friendship when they began e-mailing one another in December after she met his brother at the Dobie's Academic Decathlon competition.

"I was so excited to hear from him so quickly," Jones said. "I forwarded his first e-mail to all of my teachers with a note that said 'This is why we teach'."

Jones left Burnett to become the assistant principal of Kruse Elementary. After four years at Kruse, she moved to L.F. Smith Elementary where she has been the principal for eight years.

"I only remember two teachers from elementary and Mrs. Jones is one of them," said Dao. "She was so easy to remember because she was always excited to be in class and boosted everyone's spirits."

After leaving Burnett, Dao attended Thompson Intermediate School and then Dobie.

"I never kept up with Harry while he was still in Pasadena," said Jones. "I remember him because he was such a delightful child. One of the ones that just seemed so perfect."

This year, Dao spent his last semester at Yale looking for a medical school that was right for him. After a long decision process that included acceptances to the Baylor, Vanderbilt, Tulane and Johns Hopkins medical schools, Harry decided on Johns Hopkins and will be attending there in the fall.

"I attribute my love for reading and my success in academics to Mrs. Jones," Dao said. "She made a difference in my life."

Dao is working in Houston this summer with the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA). He has been active in VCSA for the past three summers, helping the organization with youth recognition luncheons and planning a number of community health projects. This summer, he even brought in his own nutritional health project series.

"I'm so happy for him," said Jones. "I'm so proud of him and all that he has accomplished."

Dao hopes to begin extending his relationship and his nutritional series with Jones by introducing the series to the students at L.F. Smith.

"There's a big need for nutritional education and nobody seems to know whose responsibility it is to teach kids about proper nutrition," he said. "I hope to begin projects at Mrs. Jones' school and have students from local high schools and colleges volunteer to teach the kids."

Dao believes that there is importance in teachers making an effort to keep up with their students after they are no longer teaching them in the classroom. After taking a teacher's preparatory class at Yale, he saw the struggle that teachers face, as well as the rewards of teaching. Teaching is something that Dao wants to stress throughout his future efforts in healthcare.

Dao and Jones both hope to keep in touch with each other. They are both eager to carry out their rekindled friendship and to keep each other informed about all that they are doing.

"I hope we are best friends," said Dao. "I've made lots of good friendships along the way and I hope this one comes out just as strong."