Overlooked. Underrepresented. Unappreciated. Taken for granted. This is how our teachers have been treated in the past and it’s completely unfounded. It’s completely backwards that our educators are the ones that are feeling undervalued when they are the ones directly teaching and influencing the next generation.
Moreover, teachers are creating a new generation of leaders, they are shaping the future adults that will one day inherit the world. And that is why Liberty High School (LHS) has decided to dedicate a whole week to just appreciating our teachers. But truth be told, this event shouldn’t only be one week but a year-round occasion.
From April 27 – May 1, teachers dressed in spirit wear, received catered lunch from local restaurants and food trucks, and got to participate in lunch games that imitated “Survivor”, “Jeopardy!”, “Family Feud”, and “The Price is Right.” Teachers also participated in the Annual Appreciation Week Showcase Raffle where staff members’ names were chosen at random to go down to the College and Career Center to receive their prizes.
Mileigh Turnipseed (12) and Aniyah Wooten (12), explained how it felt to have a whole week dedicated to just appreciating Liberty teachers.
“It’s nice. We like sharing our gratitude because teachers are a bit overlooked, and they do a lot for the school, so we are glad that we get to do this for them,” Wooten said.
Ashley Bradley, an Art Teacher at LHS, also expressed what Teacher Appreciation Week meant to her.
Turnipseed and Wooten further indicated what the importance of Teacher Appreciation Week was as well.
“The importance of Teacher Appreciation Week is to honor and recognize our teachers,” Turnipseed said. “They go through a lot, so a time where they can have fun, receive snacks, play games, and win prizes, is greatly warranted. We want teachers to feel loved and welcomed.”
Students also play a great role in whether or not their teachers feel appreciated and this could be something as simple as saying, “have a good day” to something that takes more effort like helping a teacher move items around in their classroom so that they feel more organized.
Ms. Bradley conveyed how students can show more appreciation for their teachers.
“Students can show more appreciation for their teachers by doing their best work and being kind and respectful.”
Lastly, Turnipseed and Wooten communicated how students can show more gratitude and thankfulness towards their teachers.
“Students can write some cards for their teachers to say thanks and say, ‘have a good day’ when they are leaving the class.”
