Every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday that I have morning practice at 6:15, I see the same ten or so teachers walk into the school not long after I do. I always wonder, what could they be doing this early in the morning?

Tutoring, buying supplies, and planning field trips are just a few examples of the countless things teachers do to go above and beyond for their students. So take a few seconds out of your day to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to you. Small actions you can do to express your gratitude could be making a little card, bringing them an extra order of chick-fil-a, or just saying thank you. 

Obviously, a teacher’s job is to instruct classes and evaluate students’ understanding. But the truth is most of a teacher’s energy is spent outside of the classroom environment. History teacher Patrick Cassidy arrives at school at 6:45 am to plan, grade, attend meetings, and provide support for struggling students. He leaves at 5:30 pm. Many teachers, like Spanish teacher Susana Martinez, leave school only to continue working at home. 

In addition to performing independent work, teachers must attend meetings in the mornings and afternoons, ranging from fifteen minutes to over an hour, depending on the day. This doesn’t even include time on the weekends spent grading, long-term lesson-planning, and sending “Reminds” to students. Additionally, staff who support additional activities like clubs aren’t paid extra despite the extra work it takes.

Some teachers, like Cassidy, are voluntarily involved in programs like LSAT and LEAP and love being engaged in student’s activities outside of the classroom like musicals, sports events, and more. 

Teachers are reputed to be overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid, and this is no exaggeration. Students, parents, and those of higher status in the education system constantly take advantage of their work ethic and need for approval, ranging from disrespecting their lessons to accusing them of making mistakes or taking too long to grade something. Granted, sometimes teachers are in the wrong, but nine times out of ten, they have good intentions.

I have come to understand and fully appreciate the little things teachers do for us and I strongly encourage everyone to show your gratitude through repaying them in other small and seemingly insignificant actions that will make their day. They always feel appreciated when parents let them know how much students enjoy their class, but what makes the biggest difference is when the students themselves say a genuine thank you. “Although it’s a very simple gesture, it carries a lot of power because of the fact that they took that time to say ‘hey, thanks!’ for whatever,” Cassidy said. The relationships teachers have with students are often one of the most important things to them and maintaining those kinds of supportive relationships require gratitude and acknowledgment of the dedication teachers—and students—put into their work. 

Sometimes it’s important to recognize the things others do for you in order to see you succeed, and giving back (even when it’s not Teacher Appreciation Week) should always be a priority.