How Teacher Appreciation Week Honors Dedication In Education

May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week.

My wife, Bonnie, was a teacher and taught school for 42 years. Before she retired from teaching in June, 2025, she was teaching second-generation students, students of students she had taught. She retired briefly for a month and a half in the fall of 2023 and went back to school when her district was shorthanded. She finally retired from teaching for good last June.

One of the things that the Pandemic did, in the short term, was reinforce the understanding of the hard work that teachers do and the appreciation, both by parents and students, for in-classroom teaching and teachers. Hopefully, everyone, parents, students, teachers, and the community as a whole aren't taking teaching for granted anymore. Teachers did double duty, teaching both in person and remotely at the same time, using a hybrid model for the majority of the 2020-21 school year.

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There are still many people who are under the misconception that teachers have the easy life, they work just school hours, are done by 2:30 -3 p.m., and have weekends and summers off. Hopefully, everyone realizes that there is nothing further from the truth. Most teachers are in the schools until a couple of hours after school, involved in after-school activities, offering extra help, or grading papers. Many teachers are in on the weekends, as the paperwork has increased, so that teachers can’t complete everything during the “normal” work week.

Teachers are supplying their classrooms with the “little things” that come out of their own paychecks. Crayons, paper, Kleenex, and even food so students can concentrate on learning rather than listening to their stomachs growl are all being purchased by the teachers.

It's so nice to see that some of the PTA's or Friends groups are planning activities for their teachers this week!

How can you celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week? Don’t get them a coffee mug! Ask if you can volunteer for an hour in the classroom or help them from home. Check in with them and ask if they need anything for the classroom. Get them a gift card to Walmart or Staples. The teacher isn’t going to use it on themselves; they’ll buy something for the classroom, and your child will benefit!

To all the teachers out there...Thank you for all that you do!