During Teacher Appreciation Week, remember how important education is.

The impact of a good teacher isn’t just seen on a multiple-choice test or in a carefully crafted essay. It’s found in those who choose to honor us in measures grand and small, from families to businesses and organizations. Many people are aware that the teachers who first believed in them helped them follow their passions, discover their purpose, and achieve success. This belief becomes a daily luxuries for us. Teachers see in our students the next banker, inventor, architect, engineer, author, or Olympic medalist every day. Our job isn’t just to teach science concepts or primary colors or verb conjugations or how to tie shoes. It is our responsibility to nurture the next generation of people who want to use their talents, skills, and ideas to make the world a better place. Teaching is both an incredible privilege and a tremendous responsibility. It is something to be valued, shared and celebrated by and for all who benefit from the influence of good educators — and that, in fact, is all of us.

It may be difficult to accept recognition when there’s a lot of uncertainty in our classrooms, a lot of ground left to gain and as always, a lot still to be done. But so much of what we teach students happens through modeling. By accepting gratitude, understanding our impact and believing in our worth — especially when we ourselves remain a work in progress — we help our students learn to embrace these attributes for themselves, as well.
Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate our school systems as a whole. It’s not only about teachers, it’s also about the importance of teaching — collective endeavor for the common good. Our families already give us their greatest gift every day by entrusting us with their children. And in our efforts as educators, we reciprocate our gratitude. By supporting our students, cultivating our classrooms, and fostering the future of our union, America’s teachers and the schools they serve strengthen communities.