Say Thank You To A Florida Teacher

Take a minute to say thank you

Early in my career as an elementary teacher in Duval County public schools, I learned that a simple thank you from a student can go a long way in making a teacher feel appreciated. The smile on a child’s face as she said “thank you” to me for tying her shoe laces or cleaning up some spilled milk left me feeling that what I did made a real difference. I didn’t save lives but I certainly molded them and it made me proud of my profession, even if the compensation wasn’t as significant as other career choices would have afforded.

Each day across Florida, teachers and education support professionals help our children to reach for their potential. All of us understand that strong public schools assist our communities in preparing students for the future. A commitment to public education benefits everyone and helps all of us to enjoy a better quality of life. This ideal isn’t new and it’s a commitment Floridians have held for generations.

This week, May 4-10, is Teacher Appreciation Week. In communities all around Florida there are many outstanding teachers that deserve a “thank you” from the citizens, parents and students that they serve. For many teachers in Florida, a thank you is even more important as educators will have to do more with less in the upcoming school year due to recently passed education funding cuts that will result in the elimination of after-school programs and in some cases result in the layoff of school personnel.

Everyday, our teachers are doing more with less than their peers in other parts of the country. While Florida ranks near the bottom in education funding, our students are doing well academically when compared with the students in other states on exams like the FCAT. Our students are performing in Florida’s public schools as result of the ingenuity of our teachers and the commitment of our parents and grandparents. Our success is built on a legacy of teacher excellence and strong community involvement. And don’t forget the education staff professionals that make sure that schools are clean, meals are served and buses transport our students safely. It is a true team effort.

Even while they are achieving great results, our teachers are striving to improve themselves and the quality of instruction that students receive. You might not be aware that more than11,000 of our state’s teachers have been national board certified over the past 10 years through the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program. These teachers are working hard to be the “best of the best” in their profession. It’s not easy, particularly since the Florida Legislature just cut the funding for this program by almost one-half at a time when Florida teachers make $6,000 per year less than their peers in Georgia.

I’m proud to represent the excellent teachers all across Florida that give their all each day to the students in classrooms in our communities. I’m hopeful that you will take a minute this week to say thank you to a teacher.

Andy Ford is president of the 140,000 member Florida Education Association.