School & District Management

Principals, Here Are 4 Ways to Show Your Appreciation for Teachers

By Marina Whiteleather — May 04, 2023 1 min read
The words thank you cute out of white paper in the shape of a word bubble and on blue background.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Teacher Appreciation Week is not only about giving teachers well-deserved kudos. It’s also an opportunity for principals to forge meaningful connections with their staff.

School leaders can have a profound impact on keeping teachers engaged and excited about their jobs, and new studies have shown that school leaders’ actions can play a significant part in helping reduce teachers’ stress levels. So it’s important for school leaders to take stock of these relationships, and assess how they can nurture them to their fullest potential.

Earlier this year, teachers responded to an EdWeek Facebook post sharing the best ways their principals show appreciation for their work. We’ve collected four of them for you. Now, put them in action during Teacher Appreciation Week. Some responses have been edited for clarity.

Show respect

“The BEST way to show appreciation is through respect. Respecting teachers as the highly qualified professionals that they are and making sure their salaries reflect that.”

-Summer B.

Give teachers some time for themselves

“Time is the best form of appreciation. Turning a scheduled PD/meeting day into a grading day (even better if it’s from home) is like all the holidays put together!”

- Paul O.

“Today it was being afforded the guilt-free opportunity of maintaining my commitment to volunteering in my son’s class even though we were short-staffed.”

- Gwendolyn L.

Offer treats or a fortifying breakfast

“Ours brings us treats every first Friday of the month she bought with her own money.”

- Jackie R.

“My principal used to do the breakfast cart twice a year. She’d buy biscuits and donuts and coffee and juice and bring breakfast to us as we taught. Fun morale booster!!”

-Brigid M.

Give a sincere thank-you

“A personal thank you and a handshake goes a long way.”

- Larry G.

“I had a principal who always left a note on [my] desk [during] meet the teacher night. She commented on how nice the room looked, the appreciation for the work we did and wished us a wonderful school year.”

- Hope G.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Engaging Every Learner: Strategies to Boost Math Motivation
Math Motivation Boost! Research & real tips to engage learners.
Content provided by Prodigy Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
The Ripple Effect: Mental Health & Student Outcomes
Learn how student mental health impacts outcomes—and how to use that data to support your school’s IEP funding strategy.
Content provided by Huddle Up
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Food and Massage Coupons: How Principals Signal Their Appreciation for Teachers
Small gestures can go a long way this Teacher Appreciation Week.
5 min read
Image of a notebook page with "THANK YOU TEACHER" written with some doodles and smiley faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Be a Focused Leader When There’s a Lot of Noise
Burnout, attrition, absenteeism, and disengagement are key issues for schools. Here's a path forward for educators.
3 min read
Screen Shot 2025 04 29 at 6.54.09 AM
Canva
School & District Management 'Go-Betweens' Are Invaluable to Principals. A Guide to Cultivating Them
A school leader's guide to creating and supporting a second-line leader.
2 min read
Wooden pawns on interconnected circles. Concept of interrelationships. 3d illustration.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Well Do You Understand K-12 Leaders’ Social Media Habits?
Test your knowledge of how school and district leaders use social media—what platforms they prefer, how often they post, and getting their attention.