Letter to the Editor: Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with a small but mighty gesture

Kindness, patience, encouragement, creative, dedicated, innovative, passionate, enthusiastic, determined and caring. These words are ones that come to mind when I think back on the teachers who have made an impact on my life.

Mrs. Pyle, Mrs. Willman, Mr. Schultz, Mr. Keith and Mrs. Dohlman. These people spent countless hours working to ensure I left high school prepared to tackle the challenges I would face and ensure I would be a positive contributor to society.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-12, I reflect on those teachers who made an impact on my life. I wonder if the teachers I have had the pleasure to learn from know just how much they have contributed to my successes in life. I spent well over 15,000 hours with these people and yet, I am not sure I ever really expressed my appreciation for all they did.

While most teachers are passionate about the content area they have a degree in, ultimately teachers teach students. I could not begin to count the number of times my teachers were there to provide encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, assist me with homework, time in various practices and much more.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, I encourage you to reach out to the teacher who had a positive impact on your life and thank them. To hear the impact a teacher made on someone’s life will mean more to him or her than any purchased gift can mean. Write a letter, send an email, pick up the phone and you may just make a teacher’s day or even career! Thank you to all our teachers for all they do!

Jessica O’Connor
Agricultural Teacher
Waukon High School