NEA celebrates national Teacher Appreciation Week

WASHINGTON – The National Education Association is uniting with students, families, and educators nationwide to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10, 2024. This year and year-round, we express our gratitude to educators for their invaluable contributions to our students, families, and communities, and we continue to uplift their stories and voices to our leaders. 

“During this Teacher Appreciation Week, communities across the country will come together to appreciate educators and the lengths they go to ensure every student, no matter their race, background, or ZIP code, has the tools to learn, grow, and thrive,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Educators are leading the way, guiding and protecting, nurturing and supporting our precious students across this nation. Every day, all day, they help our students build a future that will help them fulfill their most ambitious dreams.” 

On Monday, May 6, NEA is teaming up with the National PTA and Lysol to surprise extraordinary teachers in Maryland, Colorado, and Kansas with much needed classroom supplies from their wish lists.  

“Teachers are shining stars going beyond the call of duty every day, in and out of the classroom for every child. And this often includes spending their own money to ensure their students have access to supplies and resources and receive the best education possible,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “National PTA is pleased to team up with NEA to help give back to teachers. Our association remains committed to elevating and supporting teachers and advocating for what they need, and we urge everyone to join us.” 

“Lysol is proud to be in its 13th year as an NEA partner, working together to help stop the spread of illness-causing germs in classrooms nationwide with the goal of reducing absenteeism in schools,” said Jacob Hilton, brand manager, Lysol Disinfecting Wipes. “Through the Lysol HERE for Healthy Schools program, we provide free lesson plans and resources, created in tandem with NEA, to help make healthy-habits education fun and accessible for students. We firmly believe educators are superheroes and should be celebrated  not just this Teachers Appreciation Week, but all year long.” 

The NEA is encouraging everyone to demonstrate their appreciation by ensuring that teachers' voices are heard and by urging our country's leaders to allocate necessary resources and show teachers the respect they deserve. You can share stories of outstanding educators by visiting www.nea.org/thankateacher. 

Teacher Appreciation Week follows NEA’s recent release of detailed reports examining educator pay and school funding from pre-K through college, which reveal that despite modest gains in educator pay last year low wages and a lack of professional respect are chronic problems. Salaries continue to lag woefully behind inflation over the past decade, the reports show, limiting the ability to attract and retain quality educators amid a looming educator shortage and sagging educator morale.  

“While we are encouraged by how some states have stepped up to the plate to raise the floor in educator pay, salaries are still woefully inadequate for this important profession,” said NEA President Becky Pringle.  

Since 1984, National PTA has designated one week in May as Teacher Appreciation Week, a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children. PTA events at the national, state and local levels celebrate the outstanding contributions teachers make. 

National Teacher Day began in 1953 when former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt proposed that Congress set aside a day to acknowledge the work of educators. Since 1985, NEA has celebrated National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of the first full week of May. To learn more about all NEA is doing to help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, visit nea.org/thankateacher. 

Follow NEA on Twitter at @NEAmedia 

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.