Supporting Our Teachers

Teaching can be one of the most rewarding and challenging careers. This is why it is important for parents, students, and the community to celebrate and support teachers often. Bringing an apple or Kleenex to school – while much appreciated – are not what they used to be. Let’s take this opportunity to reevaluate what it means to support teachers in our time.

We can all celebrate and encourage teachers each and every day as teacher ambassadors. Make it your mission to show and tell about all the great things teachers are doing. It is easy to get sucked into negativity online and in social groups. Let’s change the narrative and be teacher-positive. If you run into a problem, use the proper channels and remember, one teacher is not a reflection of all, and chances are, problems may be a misunderstanding.

Assume the Best
We all know there are two sides to every story. At the end of the day, teachers are human too. They have bad days. They deserve grace and an opportunity to explain and – if warranted – to apologize. Avoid a combative exchange by

coming to teachers calmly. This should happen first via email and preferably a day or two later, so you and your child and the teacher have time to calm down and think clearly. Maybe the issue wasn’t even really about the teacher, maybe your kiddo just had a bad day and needed someone to be mad at – we all know parents and teachers are usually the safest people for kids to take their anger

out on. Teachers are going to be much more responsive and willing to make things right if they feel supported, respected, and safe engaging with you.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to teachers.

It is easy to forget how requests on teachers’ time can add up. They do a lot, in addition to active teaching.

• Writing and preparing lesson plans with differentiation for each subject

and period and accommodations for individual students

• Emailing home about upcoming tests or events

• Grading, giving feedback, reporting grades online, and emailing home for

students failing or at risk

• Analyzing the success or failures and reporting smart goals

• Preparing for and attending team, staff, and IEP/504 meetings

• Professional development - they need to stay on the cutting edge to be relevant

• Helping students and sending home missing work

• Warming up their coffee, or sprinting to the restroom - if there is time left!

Even though teachers will be more than happy to hear from you, before reaching out, consider: Is this something to talk to your child about to help them advocate for themselves, or, does it require the teacher’s attention?