Dos and Don'ts for Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner.  Many companies and schools are ramping up their plans for show gratitude for the important and incredibly challenging work that has been teaching during the 2021-2022 school year. With burnout and exhaustion on the rise, it is important that we celebrate this week in a way that does not contribute to the problematic narratives plaguing the profession and honors the exhausting and important work of educators. 

With this in mind, I wanted to write a piece with recommended Dos and Don'ts when celebrating teachers this year based upon my experience as an educator and conversations with colleagues. When celebrating a profession that is notoriously undervalued, it is important that we do what we can to get it right.
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DO Acknowledge Physical, Mental, AND Emotional Labor
​​As mentioned in my previous post, we often ignore the impact of emotional labor and acknowledge it as equally strenuous as physical and mental labor. The story often told is that the joy of making an impact on students should somehow negate the toll of emotional labor and that the feeling of making a difference should somehow make up for the lack of monetary compensation. From my experience, this year has been the hardest in education largely because the workload of emotional labor is higher than ever. While thanking teachers, make sure to acknowledge the challenges of this year and validate the exhaustion generated from all kinds of work. This does not mean dwelling in the hard times; however, failing to acknowledge the realities of the current moment denies teachers the chance to be seen and held. Make space for it all.

DO provide gifts/treats other than food
While food is often used as a treat for celebratory purposes, I caution us to be mindful of the unhealthy relationship many folks have with food/drinks as a coping mechanism to handle stress. In a world where teachers are not compensated adequately, food is often used as a cheap alternative to expressing appreciation. For me, this turned in to an unhealthy association with food (especially sweets) as a means for feeling appreciated and managing work-related stress. I challenge us to find a variety of gifts that allow everyone to feel appreciated without having to indulge in unwanted behaviors. Alternatives might be notes from students and families, community-building events, or unstructured time to use as they see fit.
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DO NOT celebrate martyrdom or unhealthy boundaries
On my LinkedIn feed, I saw a well-meaning superintendent post this image in preparation to ramp up to Teacher Appreciation Week. I found myself immediately furious with the post, taking a screenshot and hiding the name to ensure I used my anger to start a productive dialogue around why posts like this are so problematic. Glorifying exhaustion as an indicator of success and student impact promotes all of the behaviors that ultimately lead to burnout. We need educators to be healthy and whole. With the many challenges facing education right now, healthy boundaries and habits that promote resilience are more important then ever. Instead, celebrate those taking care of themselves and holding healthy boundaries. Encourage and support teachers in their pursuit of self care.​
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DO NOT call your coupon a 'gift'
Many vendors offer a Buy-One-Get-One offer, which requires educators to spend money in order to access appreciation. To me and many educators, this comes across as a clear marketing ploy, designed to boost sales. If something is truly a gift, there is no expectation for anything in return.
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DO NOT shame or exclude those deciding to leave the profession
As someone who has decided to leave the K-12 industry, I know all too well the heartbreak that goes into that kind of decision. I am not leaving because my passion is gone or I have stopped caring about students - quite the opposite. My decision to leave is about boundaries and creating a life that allows me to be whole for myself and those I love. Education in its current form is not a place where everyone can thrive. We need to appreciate everyone in it - those who have given themselves to education including those who know and value themselves enough to make the hard decision to leave.

DO Vote for Policies and Funding that Support Schools
Perhaps the best way to show appreciation for the work of education is to vote for policies and funding that support educators. As someone who has spent the past twelve years in education, I know that the amount of funds allocated to provide supports and services are severely inadequate. The laws passed with the intention of accountability put counterproductive stressors on schools and measure narrow views of student success that further marginalize those further from opportunity. It is time we trust the professionals who are experts in supporting students and provide them with the resources and dignity owed to the important work of shaping the next generation - vote accordingly.
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What do you think? What are your Dos and Don't for celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week?