Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. We have an incredible team of teachers at KPEA and here are just some of the reasons why I appreciate our amazing team:

Reason #12 and #16 in action

1. They work hard. Really hard. And they do it with a smile every day, even when it's December and they come to work in the dark and leave to go home in the dark. And it's cold. But they're still smiling. 
2. They love teaching our hardest kids. Kids who aren't always perfectly behaved. Kids who take lots of extra effort before they "get it". Kids who aren't always in uniform or don't always have their homework done. Kids who have tantrums or who sometimes say not nice things. Teachers at KPEA love these kids the most. 
3. Teachers at KPEA can write a catchy song about any learning objective and frequently do. 
4. They don't give up until students have mastered every skill they've taught. If this means pulling small groups of students for extra practice at breakfast, creating an entirely new center, or making sure families are practicing the skill at home, it's what they do. 
5. Even though they work hard, teachers work equally hard to have fulfilling lives outside of school because they know that they need to be happy and rested to be at their best for kids. Besides being great teachers our staff are great runners, dancers, wives, cooks, friends, sisters, activists, artists, mothers, and more. 
6. Every person in our building has the back of everyone else, no questions asked. Teachers clear paper jams from the copier when their colleague has had it up to here with the finicky machine, give each other rides to the auto repair shop, and watch each others class while they take an urgent parent phone call. 
7. Our teachers are the most patient, calm, caring people I have ever met.
8. They build incredibly strong relationships with families that enable our teachers to both be invited to family celebrations and to have tough conversations with families about student progress. 
9. Teachers pick kids up when they have no other way to get to school and take them for pizza as a reward for reaching their big goal. 
10. Our first graders read chapter books and write page long pieces clearly arguing why we should have a hot tub in their classroom.  
11. Kindergarten students come in not knowing all of their letters of the alphabet and leave reading 1st grade books. 
12. They can make a hat or crown the most exciting reward for any occasion!
13. They make teaching 25 six-year olds look like the easiest thing in the world, when in fact it is one of the hardest.     
14. They hand in things on time. Like 99.99% of the time. Without me reminding, badgering, or asking. Our teachers are pros who do great work because they know it is what is best for kids.
15. Our teachers always have the best interest of our kids in mind, even when that means calling a student every night at 9pm to remind her to go to bed or making individualized homework each week for a student. 
16. They are always up for a challenge. Moving to 3 buildings in 10 months? Sure, no problem. Put on a huge student performance for tons of VIPs? Yeah, why not. Set and reach really high academic goals for our kids? Of course!  
17. They are so much fun to be around, whether it is leading a dance party with their students or telling hilarious stories before a staff meeting, our team is always smiling and bringing joy to everyone they come into contact with. 
18. They are great teachers and yet they still work really hard to get better every day.
19. Teaching is hard and teaching in a start-up environment is hard, but our teachers never complain, gossip, or get down. Instead, the exemplify the KIPP ideal of looking for a solution when there is a problem. 
20. Our kids love school and love learning because they have great teachers.