Celebrating, honoring and saying “thank you” to our school communities has never been more important or meaningful during American Education Week than in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team of professionals who work in our public schools, from bus drivers and classroom teachers to cafeteria workers and administrative staff, plus countless others, have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while continuing instruction in creative yet extraordinary challenging ways.
“American Education Week serves as a tribute to the team of people who work with our students,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “We honor and thank them for the work they do every day, in the midst of a pandemic, to make sure that our students are safe, and ready and able to learn.”
Each day of American Education Week has its own theme, including Families Day and Education Support Professionals Day.
To support families who have have partnered with their children’s teachers more closely than ever before, and who have needed more support for supplementing education at home, NEA has partnered with PBS television station WETA to create resources to help educators and families navigate distance learning.
“We know parents and caregivers are crucial to providing our students with the best possible education,” said Pringle. “Our partnership with WETA will provide the tools and resources they need to ensure our students have access and opportunity, whether they are inside a classroom or learning virtually. Public schools are the cornerstones of our communities. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, friends, neighborhood advocates: we all have a role to play in supporting student learning in the classroom and beyond.”
NEA and WETA developed tips and tools to help ensure that learning continues—no matter where it takes place. NEA's Family Resources includes experts' tips for at-home reading instruction for K-3 kids, provided in partnership with Reading Rockets; advice on digital and virtual learning; insight into communicating and collaborating with educators; and background on why family engagement is an indicator of great public schools www.nea.org/familyresources
"This is an enormously challenging time for our entire education system," said Noel Gunther, Vice President of Learning Media at WETA. "More than 60 percent of students in the U.S. are now being taught remotely. We're seeking to give families and educators some of the tools they need to help students keep learning even when they can't go to school. We're very grateful to be working with NEA in this effort to support student learning."
Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day is celebrated every year on the Wednesday of AEW. The pandemic has highlighted how critical their contributions are to keeping a school running, especially in a crisis. Across the country, ESPs rolled up their sleeves and helped out in any way they could, even when they were unsure of their job security or whether they were putting their own health at risk.
They have been busy passing out meals to their communities, sanitizing school buildings, maintaining proper HVAC systems, supporting distance learning, making phone calls to check on students, and so much more. Whether our schools are virtual, in-person, or a mix of both, ESPs are helping to ensure students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
“This year it is so important to celebrate educators who did everything they possibly could to get their students through some of the most difficult times in their lives,” says NEA Education Support Professsional (ESP) of the Year Andrea Beeman. “We have gone above and beyond the call and duty and we’re going to continue to do so. Even if nobody else says thank you, we know how we were there for our school communities and we need to celebrate ourselves!”
Find ways to help celebrate educators and public schools at NEA's American Education Week resource section.
