Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity for Virginians to recognize the critical role our teachers play in shaping our children and the future of the Commonwealth.
Ed sat down with a few teachers last week to, first and foremost, say thank you and to find out more about why they love teaching. It is absolutely clear – teaching isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling.
Mary Anna, a retired teacher from Richmond, said growing up she always wanted to be a teacher.“My grandmother was a teacher, my mother was a teacher, my son is now a teacher,” she said, “I just always knew it was what I wanted to do.”
Sarah, a kindergarten teacher in Chesterfield County, said that she realized how much of an impact she was making on her students lives when a student called her “Mommy” during class one day. “It’s the little things,” she said “It’s the little daily things.”
Delegate Dickie Bell chatted with Ed about his years as a high school special education teacher and coach and his highlight was the lifelong relationships with students. “I hear from them frequently.” he said, “I still love it when one of my kids or their families calls me ‘Coach’. It makes me feel good!”
Delegate Bell’s daughter Erin followed in her Dad’s footsteps – she is now a high school special education teacher. Her job can be incredibly challenging but, “when I start to get a little beaten down – I get a note from someone, or I run into somebody I used to teach, or get a random Facebook message from someone that I had five years ago,” she said, “I remember, that’s why.”
When asked what advice she would have for someone considering becoming a teacher, Leslie, a kindergarten teacher from Chesterfield, said, “They should definitely consider it – especially if you want to make a difference for other people, because you do every day.”
Linda, a retired middle school math & science teacher from Chesapeake, encouraged prospective teachers to substitute teach. “If you can do that,” she said, “and you’re good at it and you love it, then teaching is for you.”
The last teacher I sat down with happened to be my favorite teacher of all time, my sister Sharyn. Sharyn taught elementary school for almost 30 years and loved every minute of it. “It’s such a rewarding experience,” she said, “to see those children and learn from them as you teach them. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
So to ALL of the teachers in Virginia – thank you for becoming a teacher and for everything you do to shape the lives of children all across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!