Teachers need help of communities

How sad that Ms. Cepeda (“The parental factor in teacher evaluations,” April 17) missed an opportunity to make a difference in not only one young man’s life, but many others. Did she wait and offer congratulations to him after the ceremony? Did she go to the school and find out how she and other concerned parents and community members can support students when their own parents can’t or won’t?

No, she puts all the responsibility on teachers even after admitting that teachers spend only 1,150 waking hours with students compared to the 4,700 hours they are in the community.

The job of teachers is to inspire and educate. She states, “Educators must step up to the challenge.” In a culture that does not respect teachers and education, for some students encouragement has to come from outside the educational community for the student to respond. I say, everyone step up to the challenge! We will all be happy we did.

Joan Brauer

Streamwood