Where do we even begin in showing appreciation to the teacher’s of the world? A big ol’ Thank You with a big ol’ hug and a huge smile is a great way to begin. Albert Einstein said it best, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Teaching is indeed an art and teachers are indeed artists. If it were up to me, teachers would get paid as much as a sports star (if we are being real, that sports star had to make it through school in order to make it to where they did, and if my memory serves me right, teachers are who taught them in school … soooooo yeah.) and not paid based off a series of tests. (I think that’s a totally different blog post and issue. So, I will stop running my mouth and get off my soap box.)
There are a handful of teachers who’ve made a huge impact in my life and I can’t help but think of them this week as we honor teachers.
Miss Abadaca taught at Vestal Elementary School in San Antonio, TX and I remember her kind nature, and attention to detail in the ability of how each child in our class learned best. I remember that during a math lesson (my worst subject), she sat right next to me and explained a different method of how to solve my math problem than what she taught at the front of the class and I finally understood it. She smiled at me and said, “Sometimes we learn differently and that’s okay.”
Mr. Townsend taught at North Euless Elementary in Euless, TX and he was dynamic. I don’t ever remember him looking and acting burned out, mad, or annoyed. He always stood in the hallway by the entrance to his classroom and greeted every student with a smile, and was always “ready and on point” when teaching. He was engaging and made learning fun. He also had the best color of blond hair that I have ever seen on a man!
Mrs. Rinear taught at Garner Middle School in San Antonio, TX and is a gem. She made coming to her class a highlight of the school day and her demeanor was always bright and welcoming. She created a unity in her class with each student. She created a family bond with her students and she is still very much a part of our lives today. In fact, we just celebrated a 23 year 8th grade middle school reunion in April and she attended one of our events as a special guest and it was extremely impressive that she remembered names, and shared memories. One of our common bonds
was her and we are very thankful that she has stayed active in our lives.
Mrs. Aycock taught at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, TX and she was the catalyst that spurred on my appreciation and love towards a variety of authors and genres of books. She taught in such a way that you were truly engaged in everything she was teaching and it was difficult to leave her class when the bell rang.
Teachers are the unspoken heroes that are also counselors, moms, dads, guides, mentors, nurses, and more. They wear a variety of hats depending on the child and the parent’s needs. I like how C.S. Lewis puts it, “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.”
Thank you for the countless hours you spend taking your “work” home with you, the amount of personal money you spend on your classroom and on your students, the energy that you give to every single one of your students, the tolerance and patience you give to parents with an authentic smile, the ridiculous amount of time that goes into a lesson plan, for accepting the gift-of-all-things apples that you probably didn’t want a collection of, for accepting Bath and Body Works products that you receive as gifts and probably could open your own store with the amount of stock you have now, and most of all for choosing to be in a profession that is a lifestyle, not just a career.
We applaud you and want you to know that you matter, what you are doing makes a difference, and in those low and tired moments just remember that you have and are making a significant impact in the lives of people. Thank you for teaching!
(Quick Note: Kudos to those teachers that love apples and Bath and Body Works products, proceed on! Lol!)
