As you may know, each year during the first week of May, we celebrate our teachers. Schools throughout the United States find novel ways to show their teaching staff how much they are valued. Robbinsville is no exception.
In my view however, one week does not suffice. On the contrary, I believe we should celebrate our teachers every day of the year!
Have you ever considered that from September through June our children spend far more of their waking hours at school then they do at home? This time spent in school is a crucial part of their existence and impacts nearly all aspects of their social, emotional and intellectual development.
It takes a special person to be a teacher. For most, teaching children is a vocation, one that requires patience, commitment, introspection, creativity, relevancy, passion, connectivity, collaboration, selflessness, perseverance, trust, compassion, understanding and devotion. I’m sure I missed a few, but those attributes sound pretty special to me.
In Robbinsville, our teachers continually strive to meet three criteria to ensure success in the classroom:
1. They are outstanding at their craft. In other words, they demonstrate the highest levels of proficiency in their area of expertise so that students benefit from sound instructional practice in the classroom.
2. They actively and positively contribute to the overall health of the school community. This attribute can manifest in a variety of ways. Some teachers might become involved in clubs and activities while others help lead curriculum and professional development. Others may serve as quiet leaders on their team of teachers by actively sharing information or lesson ideas. The overall goal is to encourage a model of distributed leadership which leads to organizational growth and learning.
3. They are active and reflective learners. If we expect students to demonstrate the characteristics of a learner, we must similarly expect this of our teachers. In practice, this is found in teachers who receive and act upon constructive feedback, and in those who seek to develop professionally on their own.
Although a teacher’s journey may not result in a life of luxury or in great financial gain, the rewards of teaching are significant and life affirming. Each day, our teachers are presented with countless opportunities to influence young minds. Their work is not measured in gross sales or profit margins. Rather, it is reflected in how each student moves along his or her own learning curve to reach his or her highest potential.
As parents, the best thing we can do to honor teachers is to be engaged, to be as active in our children’s school experience as we possibly can be. In my house, time is always scarce, and I’m sure it’s like that in most of Robbinsville. If we can find those extra moments to work with our children on homework, projects and have simple conversations about their school day, I’m certain that teachers will feel more appreciated. I am also certain that our children will benefit.
Thank you to all those great teachers in Robbinsville and across the United States!
Matt O’Grady is president of the Robbinsville Board of Education.
from the schools,
