Most of us at some point in our life have attended school. We have sat in a class, watched what teachers do, listened to what our teachers have to tell us and teach us, and, hopefully, even actively participated in our learning. (If your mind immediately goes to the off-camera teacher from Charlie Brown’s Peanuts, whose “waa-waa-waa” words are unintelligible, that is not where I am going with this.) Since we have been in classrooms as students and seen what happens, many of us mistakenly think we know all about what teachers do.
Remember that teacher or staff member?
Think, though, about the teachers in your life that really stand out… the ones that truly inspired you and maybe even challenged you in some way… the teachers who demonstrated incredible enthusiasm for learning and a passion for their subject area… the teachers who left no doubt that they cared about their students and were interested in you for who you are. They cared about what they taught, but also about whom they taught. These teachers certainly left an impression and possibly influenced the trajectory of your life in some way!
Teaching is complex work…
What those teachers accomplished did not happen by accident. The truth is that effective teaching is highly complex work and requires an uncommon set of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that teachers bring together to teach and inspire students. Much of what teachers do happens behind the scenes, including study, planning, learning, collaborating, communicating, preparing materials, and so much more. Their ability to bring everything together in engaging ways during class, attending to the needs of diverse learners, and managing outlier behaviors all at the same time is much like what an acrobatic plate spinner does, keeping all the plates spinning at once, while, hopefully, not letting any of them fall.
It takes a team…
Within a school or school system, of course, there are so many other staff roles that are crucial to making everything run. These staff roles range from the bus drivers who get the students safely to and from school, to the nutrition staff who prepares delicious and nutritious food each day, and everyone in between. Without all of our teachers and staff doing their part, we would not have the safe, caring, and inspiring schools that we have in Roanoke County.
Shout Outs and Service Pins… This year, we have started two new ways to celebrate our teachers and staff and show our appreciation. One way we are showing our appreciation is through service pins awarded in 5-year intervals. Rather than waiting until staff retires to celebrate their years of service, we want to express our appreciation in a tangible manner along the way. It has been inspiring to visit each class and see students spontaneously and genuinely erupt with cheers and applause when we celebrate their teacher!
Another way we are elevating the great work done by teachers and staff behind the scenes, is by inviting staff to give a shout out to a teammate that exemplifies kindness or teamwork, has a golden attitude, or does something specific to make a difference. Just in the past month, there have been over 60 teachers and staff nominated by their colleagues! Here are some highlights and examples of what people are saying:
“She does a great job setting expectations for students to help them rise up and reach goals they have set for themselves. She takes lots of time to talk to students and make them feel supported but also challenged when they need to be. She makes a big difference in her students’ lives.”
“She is a very kind and caring person willing to listen to adults and children alike. She is kind and caring to everyone.” “She is always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for her students. She works tirelessly to make them feel welcome, capable, and motivated.”
“His students love him and his coworkers admire him for his patience, kindness, and humor. His outlook on life is positive and this spills over into his classroom.”
“She is always inviting and kind with a can-do attitude no matter the circumstances whether working with staff, parents or students. She jumps in to do anything, and when asked to be involved or problem solve always says ‘We can do this’. She is extraordinary with her positivity, attitude and work ethic. She raises the bar!”
“She exemplifies outstanding teamwork every day. As a long-time member of the school team, she welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like part of the school family from day one.”
Thank you to all our Roanoke County teachers and staff for being part of our team, and to the students, parents, and families who support them and take time to also express your appreciation to the educators and support staff who take care of our children and work hard to make them opportunity ready. We appreciate you! | 
