Teacher Appreciation Week Kicks off Today!

 ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - Teacher's appreciation week runs today till Friday and ABC57 spoke to some educators about ways in which the community can show appreciation for them.   

Teacher's appreciation week is an opportunity to thank teachers and recognize the impact they have on the community.  

“I think it’s nice when teachers get an email from a parent about something that happens with their child some positive, I think a phone call to a let a teacher know that they know their doing a good job and they appreciate their efforts,” said Mark Geissler, John Adams School Social Worker 

It's easy for some educators to feel undervalued, but one local teacher said the biggest reward is working with students.   

 “We are undervalued, underappreciated but at the same time as our reward comes from our student and how much of an impact, we can have on them and how much they appreciate what we do,” said Adams Zache, Swanson Traditional 5th grade teacher.  

It's no secret that teacher pay is a major issue plaguing the education industry. 

Lawmakers across the political spectrum have made raising teacher pay a top priority in 2023. 

Democrats in both the U.S. House and Senate have introduced bills aiming to get teachers to a $60,000 base salary. 

“It's really a team effort and anytime we get support, and we can support at home and kind of make it a joint community and it makes it easier, that’s when we feel appreciated,” said Adams Zache, Swanson Traditional 5th grade teacher.  

Another local educator ABC57 spoke to said that the kids are the most important part of the job.  

“As far as teacher appreciation, yes its good, but if I didn’t like what I was doing, I wouldn’t be doing it, talk to nearly every teacher and they can't wait to wake up and prepare them for the test or for life,” said Eric Bowers, Penn High School teacher.  

Teachers' appreciation week will run from today May 8th to Friday May 12th.