Teacher Appreciation Week officially begins May 8. The annual celebration to share a little extra gratitude with educators nationwide falls during the first full week of the month, but some schools have already begun the festivities. Many businesses, from restaurants and clothing stores to yoga studios and cinemas, are offering freebies and other perks to teachers starting this week. The crowdsourcing website GoFundMe plans to donate $1,000 to the fundraising projects of 100 K-12 teachers.
Each year, students, parents, celebrities, and politicians get creative in how they express their thanks. In 2016, President Barack Obama advocated for higher pay for teachers, and Spotify compiled song picks from Jill Biden and musicians Matt and Kim for its #ThankATeacher playlist. (Some teachers also take the week to raise concerns about issues in education and unfair treatment of educators.)
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2017, Education Week editors, reporters, and staff members decided to make their own tribute of thanks. In a video, we shared what we appreciate about our favorite K-12 teachers, reflecting on the memories of the educators who left a lasting impact.
Assistant Managing Editor Lesli Maxwell thanked a former teacher, Mr. Bradshaw, for inspiring her to think about a career in journalism.
“He’s the first person I really remember, aside from my parents, of course, telling me that I was a good writer, a strong writer, and that was something I should consider pursuing in my professional life,” she said. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
Take a look—and let us know if you’re among the honorees!