What a year this has been! We have all been challenged in ways we could have never anticipated. We have had to stretch ourselves and refine our craft with such urgency that the pace at times felt daunting. We have worked to support students and their families as they navigated family hardships all while trying to stay engaged in the learning process. We have served as friends, counselors, confidants and sometimes even a shoulder to cry on for our colleagues during moments where we have been overwhelmed and emotionally saturated. So much of this has been done quietly, without the crowds and lights. But I want Thanks for all your hard work you to know that you have been seen. You are GREAT teachers! And as was so well articulated in an article on Teach.com, “Great teachers do it all.”
When we all chose to enter this profession, we did so knowing that there was a unique opportunity to serve others and impact their lives for good. We knew that each year would present a new set of opportunities and that every cohort of students would be original. Teaching is like no other profession. “Teachers are in a unique position to have a direct impact on their students. Teachers can see their work in action, see the changes they affect, and in so doing they witness firsthand their goals coming to fruition. No matter what the goals are, they can pretty much be summed into a single sentence: You want to help people.”
As we close this school year, I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you for helping me. Thank you for helping each other. Thank you for supporting your students and their families through this difficult season. We have all made it through this stronger than we started because you have magnified your role and have shown what being a teacher is all about.
May you take some well deserved time over the summer for yourself. Reconnect with your hobbies, personal interests and loved ones. Do so knowing that you have helped and impacted others (some that you may not even personally know) for good. And we will be forever grateful.
