Head of School Letter: Appreciating Teachers

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, as the Shorecrest Community Association (SCA) honors teachers throughout the week with treats and messages of support and thanks. This week highlights the many relationships that have been built within the Shorecrest community and provides an opportunity for us to reflect and express what we most value: the people of Shorecrest. 

The main goal of SCA (which all Shorecrest families are automatically a part of and there is no registration nor dues) is to enhance the sense of community at Shorecrest. Through volunteerism, SCA provides opportunities for all Shorecrest community members to lead and to participate in events, activities and services that support and enhance the engagement and sense of community at Shorecrest. There are also other aspects of SCA which are organized off-campus as well. A host of committees provide a myriad of opportunities to get involved, including the Teachers Appreciation Committee.

A quick history note about Teacher Appreciation Week. It is a nationwide event which began in 1953 with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's persuasion of Congress to set aside a day to recognize educators. The National Education Association later expanded it to a full week in 1986. Here at Shorecrest, SCA has long had a Teacher Appreciation Committee, whose focus has been on finding ways to express the community’s sincere appreciation to the educators whose hard work so positively impacts the lives of Shorecrest students. This year’s committee is co-chaired by Leigh-Anne Plattner (parent of Ashleigh ’32) & Robin Wood (parent of Jenna ’20 and Emily ’25) and they, along with parent class representatives, have found innovative and meaningful ways for teachers to feel the love and support of this community. 

Food is always appreciated by teachers, and this week was full of special treats and catered meals. Coffee is part of an educator’s lifeblood, and this week of Teacher Appreciation started and ended with the aroma of espresso, as teachers flocked to the coffee cart for their morning java. Another interesting aside: this year’s weekly Friday morning coffee cart was inspired by the overwhelmingly positive response to the coffee cart that was sponsored by SCA for the 2024 Teacher Appreciation Week!

In addition to appreciation expressed by the delicious goodies sponsored by local community partners, SCA provided on-site free massages and yoga classes. There were also daily raffles for prizes, generous community-sponsored items which included tickets to local sporting events, restaurant gift cards and numerous gift baskets. 

Most meaningful, however, were the many notes and cards that students and families wrote to individual teachers. Students sent emails and hand-written cards, some with drawings, expressing their appreciation for the teachers in their lives. These notes have a huge impact on teachers, and there is nothing more appreciated from educators. I personally keep every single card I receive from students and families in my top right desk drawer and will pull them out to re-read on a regular basis. As an educator, perhaps the most rewarding aspect of our jobs is developing deep, authentic relationships with students and knowing that our efforts have positively impacted them and their families. 

Teacher Appreciation Week is a special tradition at Shorecrest, perfectly poised in the whirlwind month of May, that prompts us to reflect on the meaningful work we do as educators. Your generosity and thoughtfulness this week are a reminder of the warmth and connection of this supportive community. On behalf of the faculty and staff at Shorecrest, thank you! 

All the best, 
Nancy