Take the time to show teachers some appreciation

Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6 to 10, gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on our children’s teachers and to express our gratitude and thanks for all of their hard work in educating them.

Teaching is arguably one of the least-appreciated professions. The expectations are significant. Even before teachers meet their students on the first day of school, they have had to comply with strict certification requirements, understand detailed state curriculum mandates and be prepared to have their students meet demanding test proficiency expectations.

Once class starts, they will be expected to motivate and teach a room full of distinctly different learners, each with unique learning styles, unique aptitudes, varied emotional needs and home life background. Whew! Now that is not easy work!

Our outstanding teachers in the Glenbard high schools deserve all of the appreciation we can give them. Listed below are a few simple ways to show our gratitude and appreciation:

Ÿ Simple thank you notes: Receiving a personally written thoughtful note in the mail may be old fashioned, but it’s special.

Ÿ Baked goods: Taking the time to bake a treat will not only warm teachers’ hearts, but their stomachs as well.

Ÿ Thank you email: Sending a thought of appreciation via email is convenient and easy. Each teacher’s email address can be accessed quickly on each school’s website in the directory under the “Staff” tab on the home page.

Ÿ Surprise visit: Surprise your favorite teacher with a quick face-to-face visit just to let them know how much you appreciate them.

Ÿ Tell a friend: At a minimum, tell a friend a special story of how one of your child’s teachers has made a difference.

Our outstanding teachers work tirelessly shaping and molding the lives of our children. A quote from Carl Jung captures the redeeming value a teacher provides. He states, “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

Let’s take time this week to let them know how valuable they are to our community.

Ÿ David Larson is superintendent of Glenbard High School District 87. His column appears monthly during the school year.