Most of us can agree: teaching is one of the most vital roles in our society. In fact, 88% of people report that a teacher had a significant, positive impact on their life.
We also know that teaching isn’t easy. Every day, educators are managing 20-30 unique personalities at once while providing deeply individualized support. They provide modifications and accommodations to students with IEPs and 504 Plans and support for students navigating trauma, mental health struggles, and behavioral challenges. On top of their primary task of teaching, they prepare for lessons, communicate with families, collect behavioral data, grade assignments, prepare for meetings, and much more. A typical teacher works about 54 hours per week, and let’s not forget they make on average 26.9% less than other college-educated professionals!
We know their value, and we know their struggle. Yet, only 36% of U.S. teachers feel that society values the profession. This blog is a reminder of the essential, world-changing role teachers play. If you are a teacher, we hope this fuels your fire. For everyone else, may this serve as a call to action to show your appreciation.
Teachers are often a light for students who are in a dark place. Forty percent of high school students experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and more than 75% of students are impacted by a traumatic event before they reach high school. The good news: children who have at least one stable relationship with a supportive adult are more likely to succeed despite significant hardship.
It comes as no surprise that teachers so often are that person. More than half of students say a teacher has helped them during a difficult time, and 53% of U.S. adults say a teacher changed their life for the better. We know that trauma and mental health struggles can create a downward spiral, but it only takes one educator to step in and turn that trajectory around.
Behind almost every (likely all) innovation, advancement, and discovery is a teacher who lit the spark. From science to the arts, every leader relied on a basic education, and many credit a specific educator who especially believed. In fact, 80% of students say a teacher has encouraged them to follow their dreams.
Actor Morgan Freeman: “My sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Connie Taylor, taught me the importance of reading and expanding my imagination. She ignited my love for storytelling, which ultimately led me to pursue a career in acting.”
Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” mechanical engineer, and science educator: “What is it that…each of us loved about a favorite teacher or professor? I believe it’s his or her passion. It was Mr. Lang, my teacher, who loved physics, who got me excited about airplanes, mechanisms, and electronics.”
Microsoft Founder, Bill Gates says he “wouldn’t be where he is today without the guidance of his math and drama teachers growing up. There’s no way there would have been a Microsoft without what they did.”
Research shows that teachers are the #1 factor in student success. A high quality teacher is more likely to send students to college and can generate over $400,000 in present value of future student earnings annually. When we talk about ‘shaping the future,’ we mean it in every sense of the word.
We have endless statistics for test scores and post-secondary outcomes, but the most profound impacts are often the hardest to measure. When Edutopia asked readers to describe a life-changing teacher, they didn’t mention test scores. People overwhelmingly described a great teacher as one who “makes their students feel safe and loved, believes in their students, models patience, and helps their students reach their full potential.”
Research shows that teachers have a significant impact on students’ social and emotional development, specifically affecting their happiness, behavior, and academic confidence. Ironically, the teachers who are best at fostering these positive behaviors and attitudes aren’t always the ones with the highest standardized test gains—yet these are the measures teachers are continuously graded on.
The true reach of a teacher is impossible to calculate because a teacher’s influence doesn’t end when the school bell rings. When you improve one student’s mental health or encourage one child to be the first in their family to attend college, you aren’t just changing one life—you are changing their future family, their future workplace, and their community. Over a career, a teacher touches over 3,000 lives, creating a legacy of positive change that carries on for generations.
The true weight of a teacher is best understood through the eyes of those they’ve impacted. Here are a few moments of connection that capture the essence of the profession:
Eighty-seven percent of people say they wish they had told their best teachers how much they appreciated their efforts. Why wait?! It doesn’t need to be Teacher Appreciation Week to send a text, an email, or a handwritten note to the person who helped shape who you are today.
If you’re an administrator, here are some ways you can support your teachers and boost their well-being:
Contributor Bio
Tasha McKinney brings over eight years of experience in education. After four years of teaching outdoor education programs, she received a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Texas. Since then, she has worked in classroom settings and created content for EdTech companies.
Actor Morgan Freeman: “My sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Connie Taylor, taught me the importance of reading and expanding my imagination. She ignited my love for storytelling, which ultimately led me to pursue a career in acting.”