Jan. 9, 2023 — Dear teacher: “Having you in my life opened my eyes to my own inner strength and has motivated me to become and do more.”
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Monday Morning Magic from Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co. — “If you can read this, thank a teacher,” writes Suzanne Capek Tingley, Veteran Educator, M.A. Degree, echoing her favorite bumper sticker in an article about the Three Reasons to be Thankful for Teachers, for Western Governor’s University (WGU).
WGU is home to our Inkandescent Woman of the Month: Dr. Jennie Saunders. She starred in a recent episode of the Distance Learning Roundtable show featured on InkandescentRadio.com and Inkandescent.tv (see those above). And this quarter, we shine a light on her and the dozen fellow female educators we have had the privilege of interviewing. Meet them all here: InkandsescentWomen.com.
With school back in full swing this winter, we thought it only fitting to honor the educators who do so much for us. On this beautiful Monday morning, I want to take the opportunity to share three reasons to be thankful for teachers from Suzanne’s Tingley’s article:
They Sometimes Dress Up for Class: It’s not unusual for teachers to go the extra mile to make learning fun. Risa J., who teaches high school math, surprised her students by dressing up as a blue unicorn on Halloween. The costume was a lot of fun until her supervisor showed up for an unscheduled classroom observation.- They Wear Many Hats: Teacher, Coach, and Nurse? Teachers often play important roles for their students outside of the classroom, too. Andi M. played college soccer and loved coaching an eighth-grade girls’ team. The last game of the season was played in miserable weather, and everyone was tired and wet when they got on the bus for the 40-mile trip home. A few miles down the road, one of the girls vomited. She was embarrassed and crying, and Andi went back to comfort her. Unfortunately, there weren’t any cleaning supplies on the bus, and before long other players also got sick. “I did the best I could, but the reaction of the other kids was kind of inevitable,” Andi said. “I breathed through my mouth the rest of the way home and told the kids to do the same. Luckily everyone’s parents were there to meet us when we got back.”
Teachers often support students through difficult times that go beyond their classroom curriculum. Take fourth-grade teacher Sonya R., for example. Her nickname is The Tooth Puller. “It happened by accident,” she said. “One day in class, one of the boys kept wiggling his a loose tooth. Of course, the kids around him had their eyes on him and not me. Finally I said, ‘Do you want me to pull that out?’ He nodded, so I reached in and pulled it out. It was just hanging by a thread but he was too scared to do it himself.” When word got around, kids from other grades started appearing at her classroom door for the honor of having their teeth pulled by Mrs. R. “The kids in class applaud when the tooth comes out,” she said. “But then I send them to the nurse!” Click here to read Suzanne’s article in Western Governor’s University magazine.
We leave you with this parting thought from 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and advocate for female education in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai (pictured right): “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” Learn more about her at malala.org.
Until next Monday: The next time you meet a teacher, hug them for us all! — Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and president, Inkandescent® Inc. Inkandescent.us
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