entry forty

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Teacher Appreciation Week was last week. This time of year always brings me a strange mix of gratitude and frustration. I am fond of the cards from students and the coffee in the lounge. As a veteran special education teacher, I can’t ignore the deeper ache behind the celebration. What I truly long for isn’t a muffin and a thank-you—it’s systemic respect. It’s knowing that when I raise concerns about student safety, I’ll be heard. That when behaviors escalate, I won’t be left alone to manage them while being expected to increase rigor and meet academic benchmarks. That my experience, care, and judgment matter beyond performative praise.

It’s unsettling how we’re asked to pour ourselves into this job—emotionally, physically, mentally—only to be recognized one week out of the year with surface-level gestures. The real appreciation would look like consistent support, a seat at the decision-making table, and an end to the blame culture that turns every challenge back on us. Why must respect be scheduled? Why is acknowledgment rationed?

The deeper irony is that during this very week meant to honor us, we’re still absorbing the same weight—putting out behavioral fires, writing incident reports, documenting data, and fielding parent complaints. Meanwhile, administrators post inspirational quotes and call it appreciation. It feels hollow. We don’t need platitudes; we need partnership.

True appreciation would mean better staffing, mental health support, protected planning time, and the freedom to teach without constant fear of backlash. It would mean administrators stepping into our reality, not just observing from the sidelines. One week of cupcakes cannot compensate for a year of feeling devalued. What we really need is sustained trust, advocacy, and a system that finally sees us as more than just placeholders.