Today marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week, and this week, more than ever before, educators should be recognized and applauded for their selfless courage and unending dedication to their students. All of you have spent this year showing the entire nation the great value of what you do and the great sacrifices you make every single day for our students.
When the pandemic moved us to new learning environments, you made a way for our students. You improvised. You got creative. You worked within extremely challenging restrictions—adapting lesson plans for new platforms so our students had what they needed to learn, grow, and live into their brilliance.
You worked day in and day out to address so many of the inequities that have been fueled by systemic racism that lives within our social systems and impacts the learning of far too many of our students, from suburb to city, from Appalachia and the Northeast to the Sunbelt and the West Coast. You reached out with open arms of support, showing your students that, no matter who they are or where they live, they would continue to have the safe space, individual attention, and educational opportunities they need to thrive.
All this, and more, has filled me with so much reverence by what I can only describe as real-life bravery, the highest level of commitment that you exhibit every single day.
You continue to inspire and encourage me, as I witness your sheer, unbridled determination to fight for what's right: respect, the trust we deserve as professionals, and the unrelenting pursuit of equity and excellence for our students.
All of us at NEA are so very proud of how you have supported our students and their families in our communities, even at a time that demands that you give so much more to your own families. Your compassion for your students, dedication to your profession, your commitment to this association moves my heart.
I am so incredibly honored to work and advocate with you. So let me give you a round of applause, for showing up every single day and for all the ways you make so many futures bright today, this week, and into the future. To educators of every kind, thank you.
