365 days of Teacher Appreciation

I have been incredibly fortunate in my teaching career for a few reasons, and it is because of these reasons that I deeply believe showing appreciation to our educators and school-based staff every day of the year is needed more than in any other profession.

When I think back to early in my career, I remember so many students—the students I felt like I had made an impact on, the students I felt like I didn’t do enough for, the students who made me laugh, the students who made me cry, and the joy I felt going to teach kids every day.

Through all of these experiences, my fellow teachers were by my side. From words of encouragement to hilarious memes, I never felt alone, even on the most difficult days. Maybe I am just lucky when it comes to my colleagues that grew into family, or maybe it is because there is no deeper connection than that of an educator who wakes up every day to improve the lives of their students. The early mornings, late nights, countless hours of planning, re-planning, creating, brainstorming, collaborating, and reflecting are driven by this shared connection.

Teaching is challenging, exhausting, and constantly evolving. Despite these difficulties, teachers consistently show up for their students. This level of dedication and selflessness deserves more than just a week of appreciation.

I want to express my gratitude to the educators I have had the privilege of learning from and working alongside to improve the lives of ALL children through the greatest gift of learning.

And to ALL teachers who show up every day; ``A teacher affects eternity; [one] can never tell where [their] influence stops.'' -- Henry Adams