You Matter



Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash

I didn't feel like waiting for a special day to spread some love, so here are some shout-outs to all of the teachers and other staff members who make a difference in the lives of students everyday. In no particular order, I would like to thank you.

Special Education Teachers
You matter. You teach me that learning is NEVER "One size fits all." No one explains things better than you, advocates more fiercely than you, and appreciates every gain in learning more than you. Thank you.

Classroom Aides and One-on-One Aides
You matter. You are unsung heroes in my book. You do a million little things and don't often get the credit you deserve. You make sure students are ready to learn and help smooth out all the little bumps on the way to success. Thank you.

School Nurse
You matter. You boldly go where most of us fear to tread. Puke, blood, and mucus? All before 10 a.m.? Wow. You amaze me. You heal the little boo-boos and you're there for the big emergencies, too. Thank you, and may I show you this thing on my arm?

Specialists and Cycle Teachers
You matter. Art, music, physical education, computers, and TED? Do you know that you are often the class that students look forward to the most? You are not "extras." You are vital. Your class is where dreams come to life. Thank you.

Middle School Teachers
You matter. Middle school is AWKWARD! Teaching tweens and teens is not for the faint of heart. You survived bottle flipping, fidget spinners, and dabbing last year. We don't know what the latest weapons of class instruction are, but you will face them like a boss. Nothing scares you. You love kids even when they are at their most unlovable. (Hello, hormones?) Do you know the reason freshmen visit you so much and then brag about how awesome high school is? It's because you made them ready for high school. You share in their success. Thank you.

Experts
You matter. I'm talking to the speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, school counselors, and the LDTC. Thank you. You remind us to see the WHOLE child. Kids are not empty vessels that we can just stuff with knowledge. Each child comes to us with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. You help teachers meet the needs of all learners. Thank you.

Administrators
You matter. You are the captains of the ship, and you keep us all on course. You are there to give us momentum and to inspire us to weather the storms. You chart the course by preparing us for a great school year. You choose the destination with your vision and new ideas. Thank you.

I am probably forgetting an amazing group of educators here, and I sincerely, sincerely apologize. Call me out in the comments below. The purpose of my blog is to lift people up, not leave people out. The truth is that it's getting late and I'm getting tired. Being someone who matters is a whole lot of work, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 13, 2017 at 9:08 AM

    You are my special specialist. Thank you for inspiring me to stretch the minds of our kids.

    ReplyDelete
  2. yeslibrarianOctober 14, 2017 at 1:30 PM

    Thanks for always bringing your classes to the library!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 15, 2017 at 7:10 PM

    You matter :)

    ReplyDelete

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