Dear friends and neighbors:

 

“Not all superheroes wear capes; some having teaching degrees.” Isn’t that a wonderful witticism? It’s attributed to anonymous author, and it had to be someone who knows what it’s like to serve as a teacher; what it’s like to be responsible for young lives; and what it’s like to experience the growth of young minds, with all of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that the profession entails. 

Today kicks off National Teacher Appreciation Week! Maybe the anonymous author of the quote was part of the effort in 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt convinced members of Congress to set aside an official date to honor and recognize educators. Or maybe he or she offered the thought in 1984 when the National Parent Teacher Association designated the entire first week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week. Whenever the compliment was offered, and while some of us may witness the positive influence teachers have on students every day of the week, during this week we make an extra effort to acknowledge their hard work, their importance in children’s lives, and express to them our gratitude.

My colleagues and I have the utmost respect and gratitude for what teachers do for students each day. Their work changes lives and makes the world a better, smarter, kinder place.