NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) The mother of one of the 26 victims of last December's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School is wishing educators ``courage, faith and love'' as they start a new school year.

In a letter published Friday on the Education Week website, Nelba Marquez-Green' relayed how much the teachers and Sandy Hook impressed her by coming back to work after the tragedy.

Marquez-Green's 6-year-old daughter Ana Grace was killed by Adam Lanza during his Dec. 14, 2012, shooting spree. She also has a son who survived the shooting.

She says teachers will have a positive impact on the lives of students, including those like Lanza, who are ``left out and overlooked.''

She wrote, ``Real heroes don't wear capes. They work in America's schools.''