This week is designated as
Teacher Appreciation across the USA. As
we celebrate teachers with intentionality I invite you to take a moment to
reflect on the reality of what happens behind the scenes in education. From the
early mornings to very late nights, a teacher’s work is never just a job. There
are so many cliché jokes that can be made about working from 8:00 to 3:00 or having summers off, but I don’t
know of many bankers, lawyers, or accountants who spend their own money on
their professional supplies or fight passionately to the point of tears over
their “clients” the way our teachers do. RTE teachers expend energy to the
point of exhaustion but never fail to turn on their smiles each and every day .
. . all for the students they will teach for a mere 180 days of their academic
careers.
As an educator, I love that my
professional life revolves the daily promise of a child’s hug. How very
gratifying it is to know that what we do has the power to change a child’s trajectory
in life! Teachers are in a unique
position to accomplish what so few other occupations can: immortality. Teachers
live on forever in the stories shared between generations, the unforgettable
memories, and the differences they made in their students’ lives (Amber
Teamann)
I challenge you to find another
profession where you see this level of daily commitment. There are dozens of
examples of how far above and beyond a “contract” teachers will go. Just a few
examples: the teacher who comes to work two days after being in the ER with
kidney stones; the teacher who tries to plan the birth of her child so the
least number of instructional days are missed; the teacher who stays up until midnight,
grading papers and studying for an advanced degree (to increase her pay!), while
simultaneously teaching full time and raising three active kids; the teacher
who makes it a point to write a letter of encouragement before state
standardized tests to a former student with test anxiety—a student she had two
years ago; a counselor who does a home visit along with a social worker to
assist a family in crisis; a nurse who
calls a hospitalized student, just so he knows he is loved and missed… I could
go on and on. And I am citing examples from only one school. There are examples
like this wherever you find teachers.
You never forget the
teacher who made an impact on your life.
I observe students walk into
classrooms, sad and disengaged. I watch them blossom under a teacher’s care and
see their entire futures being rewritten. Do you think that sounds extreme?
Visit a classroom and watch how, when given attention and support, even the
students who struggle most will become engaged and grow as learners. We all
have a story about a teacher who made us feel special. I encourage you to share your story with your
child, and if you haven’t already, find that teacher and let them know,
too!
There are many ways to show
teachers or staff members that you appreciate their time and energy, just a
simple thank you or a handwritten note can make an entire year’s tireless
efforts worth every minute. We are all blessed to have those in our lives who
we call Teachers . . . this week, let’s make sure they know how much we
appreciate them!
