Since 1984, the first full week of May has been known as Teacher Appreciation Week. Since then — and rightfully so — the staff who support our teachers and students have been included. We would propose that appreciation come not just during one week in the spring, but year-round, and that it should extend to all those who work in Kansas public schools.

Teachers are like the rest of us — they often fall short of perfection. But that doesn’t stop the best of them from having a lasting effect on the lives of their students. It has been 50 years since we left high school and the example set by Mrs. Gove, who taught history and served as year book sponsor my senior year, still helps guide our decisions as a journalist.

Even without COVID, recent events have presented more challenges than usual for teachers in Ellsworth County and across Kansas. The Kansas Legislature has certainly done its best to make that so. This session, lawmakers tossed teachers into the cauldron of politics — often for no reason other than to score points with their ultraconservative constituents.

The reality is, teachers and others who support the work of school districts are asked to do many things. But we like to think the heart and soul of education comes from the care teachers and staff have for their students. Effective school teachers understand that parents are the first and primary teachers of their children. They also understand that they, as educators, play a supporting role in helping students become their best selves.

Linda Mowery-Denning

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter