By: Tillie Elvrum

As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to an end, I can’t help but think how much more recognition these superheroes deserve. Seven days (TBH, five work days) is all they get?! That seems like simply not enough.

Whether they teach homeroom, core subjects, or electives, our teachers work countless hours preparing for class, conducting lessons, grading, and following up. Their work-weeks rarely end at 40 hours yet they balance expectations from all angles…all with a smile on their face.

Over the course of my children’s educational journey, they each had a number of teachers who made a lasting impression on them. This blog post would look more like a novel if I included them all, so I’ll highlight a couple.

When my son entered first grade he was met by Mrs. Otto – a kind-hearted, small in stature, grandmotherly figure who welcomed her class in the sweetest way. Over the course of a year I never heard her raise her voice, but she was able to command the respect of her diverse group of learners. Her class was made up of ELL students who spoke more Russian than English, students from broken homes, advanced learners, and students with learning differences…and yet she saw the potential within all of them and she encouraged them to learn every day.

And then there’s Lori Biggs – my son’s high school learning support teacher. Ms. Biggs guided my son throughout his high school career, and worked with his other teachers to make sure that he was meeting the goals established in his personalized learning plan. She was there for him when he was struggling with new concepts and there when he was excelling in a class. Her support was invaluable to him – she took the time to know my son as a person and encouraged him to do his best. She was an incredible advocate for him and in turn taught him how to advocate for his own education, and as a result he now navigates his college courses with independence and academic maturity.

Teachers from all classrooms deserve our thanks throughout the whole year: brick-and-mortar teachers, virtual teachers, charter teachers, magnet teachers, and private school teachers. From all of us at PublicSchoolOptions.org, I give you a heartfelt thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You love our children. You inspire our children. You encourage our children.

Thank you.