Great teachers make
great schools
May is designated Teacher Appreciation Month by the
National PTA. It is a time for honoring teachers and saluting the lasting
contributions they make to our communities.
This year’s theme is “Great teachers make great public
schools.”
It is fitting that we take time to appreciate the teachers
who mold and educate our children and have such impact on the future of our
society.
The
California Day of the Teacher celebrated this month enables our community to
salute some of the unsung heroes and heroines in our midst.
Teachers personify our society’s belief that universal
public education is key to meeting the challenges of a
changing world.
They strive to make every classroom an exciting
environment where productive and useful learning can take place and where each
student is encouraged to grow and develop.
Our teachers reach out to foster the well-being of each
student, regardless of ability, social or economic background, race, ethnic
origin, or religion.
Teachers also motivate individual students to find new
directions in life and reach high levels of achievement.
We know that teachers perform these tasks under very
challenging conditions, with increasing pressures to raise test scores and
measure ‘success’ by students’ answers to multiple-choice questions.
I know the public at large, countywide, and the entire
educational community joins me in saying “thank you” to all teachers for their
patience, their dedication, their hard work, and their results.
Our teachers make a difference every day, and we are all
very grateful.