teacher Archives - Safe and Sound Schools

Celebrated nationally every May, Teacher Appreciation Week offers students, parents, and other school community members an opportunity to recognize teachers for the important work they do in contributing to the education and safety of our children. As professionals tasked with inspiring young minds and laying the foundation for future leaders and professionals, teachers often go above and beyond the call of duty. From spending lunch and after school time providing our students with extra support, to spending their own money on classroom supplies, to becoming emotionally invested in helping our students navigate school life, teachers have proven to not only be educators but also caregivers.

For these reasons and many more, we ask that you take this week to #ThankATeacher.

A heartfelt thank you note is always a welcomed gesture from both parents and students. Parents who have some free time can even consider volunteering in the classroom as another gesture of appreciation. If you are looking to help in other ways, you may also consider donating supplies to the teacher’s classroom, purchasing a gift card, organizing a potluck or catered lunch, or gifting spring blooms from your garden or local market.

Let us know how you are celebrating teachers this week. And if you are on social media, consider participating in the #ThankATeacher campaign.

Below are some statistics and facts that put the ongoing dedication of our teachers into perspective.

At Safe and Sound we often highlight the role teachers play in keeping our children safe (only a few of us are teachers…really). This week though, we tip our hats to America’s dedicated teachers for ALL that they do to foster the development of America’s future leaders, business owners, workers, professionals, parents, and citizens!

We celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week nationally this week, May 4-8, and National Teacher Day on May 5. And while cute mugs, crafty cards, and colorful plants are often the staples of our thankful gestures, a spoken thank you or handwritten note can mean all the world to your favorite teacher (trust me).

According to the National Education Association (NEA), the origin of National Teacher Day is estimated to be around 1944, when Arkansas teacher Mattye White Woodridge began advocating among political and educational leaders for a national day to honor teachers. One of those leaders was none other than Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953, persuaded congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day that year. Since then, the NEA has continued to promote National Teacher Day each year and persistently lobbied congress to proclaim a national day to honor teachers each year.

Of course, teacher appreciation doesn’t have to be limited to one day or a week per year! Still, National Teacher Day and Teacher Appreciation Week do serve as great reminders that dedicated teachers deserve our thanks. And who doesn’t love to make their teacher smile?

So this week, we ask you to join us in honoring and celebrating our nation’s teachers. Check out our ideas below for showing the special teachers in your school community how glad you are for their hard work. Here’s to all the teachers who go above and beyond for the education and safety of our children every day! Thank you!