Watching this All About the Holidays video, we learn that Eleanor Roosevelt led the way to the establishment of an annual Teacher Appreciation Day on May 2 after receiving the suggestion in a teacher’s letter. (Eleanor, herself a teacher, would know the effort and spirit needed to teach well and the importance of expressing appreciation for teachers’ important work.)
In its desire to say “Thank You” to teachers, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in 2003 established the Pioneer Valley Teachers Excellence in Teaching Awards to acknowledge outstanding teaching in our region. This year’s 98 teachers will be celebrated in virtual banquets over the next two weeks.
Road Trip Nation, which airs on over 200 PBS stations, is a mission-driven nonprofit in storytelling and education. In offering congratulations to teachers this week, Road Trip Nation announced a Community Teachers Hub with teachers’ stories about discovering “purpose and power in education.” At the Hub, you can view interviews, get tools and resources, find training and more.
Also, StoryCorps — whose stated mission is “to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world” — is showing its appreciation for teachers throughout May and June. They want to thank educators for their tireless work on behalf of students while adapting to our new normal. You’ll find StoryCorps’ inspiring stories and interviews here.