It's never too late to thank a teacher
Last week, May 2-6, was National Teacher Appreciation Week. Even though I’m a week late, I believe it is essential I take time to recognize all our district teachers. It’s never too late to say “Thank you!”
I first knew I wanted to be a teacher when I met my first grade teacher. I absolutely adored her. When I look back, however, she certainly didn’t have very good classroom control. I remember being terrified when she would walk out of the room because the second graders were too much for her to handle. In my child’s mind, she was leaving us and never coming back. I would cry and, of course, one of the kids would tease me about being a baby. You would think I would have been traumatized because she repeated that tactic several times throughout the year. What actually left a bigger impression on me were the books she read to us and the funny stories she would tell. She helped me fall in love with reading and books. And I still love to read today.
We all have those certain teachers in our past that inspired us along the way: taught us, encouraged us and cheered for us. Teachers play a huge role in their students’ lives.
The pressures on teachers have changed and increased dramatically over the years. I began teaching before teachers were held so accountable to the demands of standardized testing. Believe me, the increase in standards made a huge difference in my approach to teaching during my career.
On the flip side, today we have a lot of data and research to better understand how children learn. Staples Motley teachers will be using this research over the next few years to incorporate new technologies and curriculums into classrooms to improve student engagement and aid their learning.
I extend a sincere “thank you” to all of our Staples Motley teachers who are helping our children be the best they can be. We have incredible teaching talent in our district and I am excited to work with you in the years ahead. If you didn’t have a chance to thank a teacher last week, feel free to reach out when you can – teachers love to be appreciated on any day.
It’s a great time to be a Cardinal Teacher!
