As our area schools resume classes and as we witness the local and nationwide shortage of teachers, a gentle reminder seems in order to review the magnitude and importance of what the profession entails.
Teachers are hired to teach a subject or specific grade, assist students in mastery of content to meet state standards and manage classrooms. Teachers are also expected to be creative, honest, energetic, kind, cheerful, empathetic, attentive, reliable, positive, adaptable, productive, thoughtful, sympathetic, calm, punctual, forgiving, gracious, resilient, patient and loyal to the school.
Unfortunately, most people don’t know the extent of the many other abilities teachers need to exhibit daily: planner, tech expert, tutor, entertainer, nurse, confidante, mentor, custodian, cheerleader, assessment designer, listener, photographer, collaborator, safety enforcer, decorator, graphic organizer, bulletin-board maker, behavior modifier, mathematician, writer, storyteller, achievement coach and the list goes on.
We must consider ourselves fortunate in our district that our educators embrace diversity, equality and inclusiveness. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our classroom teachers, aides, support staff, building administrators and district-level executives for their devotion to this most important job.
The profession of education is a tough but rewarding career and we cannot thank our educators enough. The passion they bring to work every day is exemplary, and we are very fortunate to have such a cadre of outstanding educators. We hope our community will continue to appreciate, honor and celebrate all those in Durango School District 9-R who touch our children’s lives daily.
Sharon and Gene Orr
Hesperus
