Thanking K12 Teachers

Many days I have the pleasure of hearing snippets of teaching and classroom discussion taking place with my 9 and 11-year-old sons as they participate in their pandemic-induced online curriculum. As a result, in ways that were not available to me before, I get a close-up look at what is happening in their “classroom” on a daily basis. As I’ve seen these boys grow intellectually over the past three months, I’ve frequently thought to myself that there is a group of professionals in the U.S. that is not getting enough positive press during the pandemic. They are K12 teachers. This group has, in many ways, demonstrated the same kind of courage, creativity, and perseverance as the healthcare professionals we have rightly lauded. They work without pay. They rapidly acquire new sets of complex skills. They care for vulnerable populations. They live with constant uncertainty. They continue to serve in the midst of unfavorable odds. Even though their professional lives have been turned upside down, they relentlessly work toward improving their contribution every day. Neither wildfires nor pandemics have stopped them. These teachers give their best to those I love best and I am thankful.

This post was originally published at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/devonmberry_many-days-i-have-the-pleasure-of-hearing-activity-6737114478825103361-ve6F