|
 American
Education Week provides a time-honored opportunity to celebrate
schools. It's a week for thanking those who make a difference
in the schools: teachers, education support professionals,
parents, administrators, community volunteers. It's a week
for publicly spotlighting how important education is to the
health and well-being of our children--and our nation. It's
a week for strengthening the connection between public schools
and the public. It's a week for building partnerships between
schools and communities on behalf of students.
American Education Week offers a perfect opportunity to raise
public awareness of the needs and the virtues of public schools.
This year's AEW theme is "Public Schools: a great
return on your investment." It
reflects the Association's calling upon America to provide
students with quality public schools so that they can grow,
prosper and achieve in the 21st century.
American Education Week was established by the National Education
Association and the American Legion as an annual event in
1921. It has been celebrated every year since and now has
13 national cosponsors, including the U.S. Department of Education.
To help you celebrate . . .
Visit
NEA.org's
online toolkit or download and print the following:
In 1987, the NEA Representative Assembly called for the creation
of a special way to honor the contributions of school support
staff. National Education Support Professional Day was first
celebrated that year. Each year since then, ESP Day has been
observed on the Wednesday of each American Education Week.
As the Rev. Jesse Jackson has said, "Children need all
school workers. A person is not 'just' a janitor, not 'just'
a custodian. Janitors can see children when [teachers] don't
see them, and bus drivers recognize the children who are disruptive
on the bus are likely to be disorderly in the classroom. They're
partners in education. We need each other to make this work."
Substitute Educators Day was established in 2003 by the NEA
Representative Assembly. Substitute teachers have a vital
role in public schools. They have an ability to go into a
classroom of strange faces and keep students on task in the
absence of the regular classroom teacher. Encourage increased
respect for substitutes by celebrating Substitute Educators
Day, the Friday of American Education Week.
 On
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Americans will celebrate National Teacher
Day. The theme is "Great Teachers Make Great
Public Schools." Read more about the top
five trends facing teachers in the 21st century.
Honor teachers with a “Champion
Teacher” certificate (pdf) or notepad. Notepads
can be purchased online
or by calling the MNEA office at 800-392-0236.
As educators, we know that our profession is a life of giving
and sharing--of unlocking the magic of learning. We also know
that good teaching is a gift and something to be treasured.
National Teacher Day, which falls during Teacher Appreciation
Week (May 5-9, 2008) is a wonderful opportunity to spread
this message to the public and to remind the larger community
of the valuable work of the education family. It is also the
perfect opportunity for school boards, school administrators,
community members and students to salute and thank those who
touch the lives of our children through teaching.
 To
help you celebrate . . .
MNEA annually produces two-color notepads which
make perfect inexpensive gifts to present to all teachers
in a district in recognition of National Teacher Day. The
notepads can be purchased for 10 cents each.
Order
Teacher Day notepads online or contact Barb
Slevin by phone (1-800-392-0236) or mail (1810 E. Elm
Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101) to order the Teacher Day
notepads. A check or credit card authorization must accompany
your order.
National
Nurses Week, May 5-9
National School Nurse Day, May 7, 2008
 On
Wednesday, May 7, we show respect to school nurses. Show your
admiration and give your school nurse a Helping Hand pin.
Order online.
Visit the NEA
Web site for more information.
|
