This week marks the last week of public school for my children. My baby is graduating from high school and although he will have teachers in college and beyond, public grade school and high school teachers are a breed all their own. I am filled with emotion this week as I prepare for an empty nest, but also to saying good bye to an education system that was incredibly wonderful for all three of my children.

First, let me say that my family is privileged both financially and otherwise. We were able to afford to live in a community with outrageous property taxes and thus fantastic public schools. This is not the case for so many American families. In my opinion, all American children should have access to the same level of public education. However, this post isn’t about the ridiculous divide in education in our country, but rather my opportunity to thank the many teachers that were part of my children’s lives over the past twenty plus years.

Thank you feels so inadequate when teachers have given so much of their time, love, and dedication to the education of the next generation. Is there any other group in America that has more influence on our future? I think not. Apple mugs and gift cards are but material thank yous and in no way reflect the deep sense of gratitude I feel for the teachers in my own community and those across our country.

Teachers Are Family

My children were incredibly blessed with teachers who changed their lives in so many ways. One teacher refused to give up on my picky reading child and spent weeks tempting him with new genres until one clicked. He became a voracious reader. A religious studies high school teacher who was passionate about her subject matter inspired my oldest to follow in a similar path as he now prepares to start his doctoral work in that subject. A male math teacher noticed that my daughter wasn’t raising her hand in class even though she had the right answers. He gently pushed her to speak up and thus subtly changed the trajectory of a young girl’s life. Teachers wrote letters of recommendation for my children, they supported them when they struggled, and they pushed even when my children’s motivation was clearly lacking.

Each day we put our faith in the hands of teachers that they will be a positive force in our children’s lives and, at least in our case, none failed that faith. Each year at meet-the-teacher events, my husband and I were astounded at the quality of teachers from kindergarten through the end of high school. Their devotion to their students, to critical thinking and academics were unparalleled and my children the lucky recipients. Not once did my husband and I leave the high school without commenting on how impressed we were with each and every teacher that we had met.

Some parents home school their children. Although I’m quite impressed with this, it was never something that was in the cards for my family. And so each day we trusted these hearty and loving souls to watch over our children and be their surrogate parents when our children were in their care. Our children were their children and the future of our world. The teachers that I met took on that responsibility with great dedication.

So tomorrow, my son graduates from high school. As I prepare for life with adult children, I look back at these school years with gratitude and hope. Gratitude for the wonderful teachers who blessed my children’s lives and hope that their lessons carry my children into meaningful, committed, contributing adult lives.

Teachers…Thank you!

Love,

Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC