It’s that time of the year! Teacher Appreciation Day/Week! Yes!!!!!!!!
Teachers do amazing things. It’s always surprising to me when people are shocked to hear about the many hats/roles teachers wear/perform. It probably shouldn’t be surprising. Most of my friends and family are not educators. Why would I expect them to know any different? However, I think it’s important to raise awareness regarding this issue. Teachers don’t just teach anymore (I doubt “just teaching” was ever their sole responsibility). In addition to teaching, teachers I know often act as a nurse, a social worker, a role model, a mentor, an advice giver, a guidance counselor, a therapist, an actor/actress maintaining high levels of classroom engagement, a volunteer, a fundraiser, a community liaison, a shoulder to cry on, a family man/woman, etc. I’m not saying that educators have backgrounds in all these areas. Nevertheless, situations within our schools (or society at large) often require us to take on these responsibilities.
I am striving to build a culture where it’s always an appropriate time to appreciate a teacher. Appreciating teachers doesn’t have to be scheduled or relegated to a certain time in the year (in fact, it probably shouldn’t be). As an administrator, I make an effort to show my appreciation for my teachers and teachers in general on a regular basis. Moving forward, I’d definitely like to get better at this. Sometimes, my days are so busy that I don’t always get to show my appreciation. I plan to reprioritize my days in order to better accomplish this endeavor. Teachers deserve it.
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