Letter To The Editor: Do More Than Thank Educators

For Teacher Appreciation Week each May (May 3 to 7 this year), saying thank you can be a huge confidence boost for an educator. That’s especially true after the past year of stress and anxiety. So many teachers have put their own wellbeing aside to take care of the needs of their students at all hours of the day and night.

In response, as a society, we need to turn our thanks into action, not just say it. Educators, students and parents alike have experienced burnout. Supporting the entire school community now is not just a short-term booster, it’s critical for the long-term success of public education.

New York faces a teacher shortage, and burnout threatens to exacerbate it. One-third of educators are at or near retirement age, yet enrollment in the college teacher preparation programs hasn’t kept up with demand — it’s actually decreased 50 percent since 2009. There are about a dozen shortage areas New York schools already are grappling with, ranging from special education to English as a second language to social studies and science courses.

Part of what’s driven the shortage is how our young people view education as a career. Consider that those who went through the botched rollout of the Common Core as students saw the toll it took on their educators. Having gone through more than a year of pandemic schooling, we must take care to note the civic importance of a career in education and the rewarding benefits of educating the next generation.

And we must provide the types of supports that leave students with a positive school experience: elective and AP courses, mental health services, college and career planning.

Recognizing the contributions of educators now shows future educators that their community will stand with them. That helps us attract the best and brightest young people who want to make an impact on their community.

To our current educators — and to the educators of the future: thank you.

Andy Pallotta
President
New York State United Teachers