It is my hope that you are all safe, healthy, and ready to finish this unparalleled school year strong! We are closing in on the last weeks of classes, and I could not be prouder of how our school community rallied together and supported each other through this year like no other.

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That especially goes for our teachers, who had to juggle the needs of their students engaging over computer monitors, those spread out in their classrooms, and their own desires to deliver the highest quality education they could to each of their young wards.

And they did. They rose to the occasion, scrambling their schedules to cater to their students and stepping in to lift the load for their colleagues who faced greater challenges at home due to this terrible pandemic.

Again, I could not be prouder of their resolve and their achievements. Now it is our time to show them the respect and love they have earned and deserve. As National Teacher Appreciation Week draws to a close, I am reflecting on two things: How we can reassure them that we see their hard work as so much more than just letter grades and graduations, and how we can best honor their commitment and heart.

On that first note, I know the disquiet that state standardized testing can bring. They have resumed this spring after being suspended last year due to the pandemic. It is an easy path to simply see the long hours, the extra tutoring, the unrelenting patience our teachers must marshal condensed into a single letter grade. But I’m here to tell you that our teachers’ work is so much more than this mere summation. I want you all to think about what we don’t see: The teacher who took a student struggling with reading under her arm and by the end of the year, had him dispensing words and sentences as fast as his peers. The teacher who saw confusion in the face of a student confronting a confounding math problem in September only to solve such equations without second thoughts by May.

Students may still only do so well on the state standardized test, but the growth of their learning in these short few months is as amazing as it is incalculable – and it is a direct reflection of what an inspiring, dedicated teacher can do.

To the second note, this is where we all can pitch in. Appreciation for our teachers should not be confined to one week out of the year. It should be something we contemplate every day of every school year. So consider this a call to action: Each of you reading this, please thank the teacher of your child. Show your gratitude in small ways, big ways, and every way in between. At NOLA Public Schools, we are actively planning new avenues to show our teachers how much we value them. As we roll out more details this summer and into the next school year, think about how you can join us in these celebrations. And think of what you can do yourselves. It can be as elaborate as treated lunch at a favorite restaurant or as simple as a personal thankyou note to an inspiring educator. All I ask is that you don’t let an opportunity pass by that you could let a teacher know how much you care and how grateful you are. I know I will be doing the same.

In Service,

Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.