Celebrating the Teaching Community: We Are All in This Together

This is the time of year that is set aside for “teacher appreciation.” We here at Teaching Strategies sincerely hope that each of you enjoys special recognition this week for how much you and your work are valued.

As a former teacher myself, I loved hearing from children, their families, and my supervisors any time any of them would let me know how they appreciated my efforts. And even more meaningful than the physical tokens of appreciation I often received during this week were their words and actions.

Perhaps the most important acknowledgment, however, came from my peers—and not just for a week in early May, but all year long. These were the people who understood best what I thought and felt, what I needed, and what I treasured, because they were the ones doing it right there with me. The connections with my community of colleagues that I felt as a teacher remain some of the strongest bonds I have ever forged.

The fact is that there is no one who understands your job like those who also do it themselves.

All In This Together

Recently, we asked educators to tell us about what it was that they most appreciated about their community of colleagues. As so often happens when we pose questions such as this one, your responses overwhelmed us, both in their sheer volume (more than 2,400 in 24 hours) and the extraordinary depth of feeling they represented.

Many of the same words and sentiments appeared over and over. So many of you spoke of the bonds you share with your colleagues, how much you value teamwork, and your shared passion for your roles in the lives of children and families. You talked about leaning on each other, learning from each other, and laughing with each other. You used phrases like “We have each other’s backs” and “We are a family.” You talked about how much you value being able to trust each other, even during the most challenging of times, both at work and in your personal lives.

At my school we pull together as a team. We support each other in every way we can. Our administrative staff is kind, supportive, and understanding. They enhance our working and learning experience.

Somos un equipo y trabajamos en colaboración y unión.

I’m so thankful for having a group of teachers that keep me laughing and smiling. On the days when I feel like I can’t do another thing, these people have my back.

Your message came through loud and clear: “We are all in this together.”

Read 101 of the 2,400 responses here.

We Appreciate You

From all of us at Teaching Strategies, to all of you seeking to make a positive, lasting difference, please know that you are doing so—for children, for families, for communities, and for your colleagues.

We are humbled by the opportunity to be a partner in this work and are grateful all year long for what you do, who you are, and the many contributions you make to the children, families, and communities you serve.