No Better Time For Appreciating Teachers
Teachers make such a significant impact on our lives and play an essential role in educating people. Now more than ever, teachers need our support and appreciation to help them continue their vital service to society to the best of their abilities.
School is where we spend most of our childhood time apart from home. I remember the first name I pronounced apart from mommy and daddy was the name of my favorite teacher in preschool. We learn, explore the world, make friends, unleash our potential, build up our characters, and discover our interests at school. Teachers are the ones who accompany us through the preliminary stage of our life and beyond with our pursuit of more knowledge as adults.
A good teacher can change a person’s life. Teachers not only focus on academic results but also guide, encourage, and remind students when they stumble on life issues. This year, we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Day on May 3rd. But we should be showing appreciation for our teachers all the time. So as the school year ends, take the opportunity to show your appreciation to the teachers who inspire and help you through your ups and downs. You may want to draw a thank you card, bake a cake, bring them some flowers or something for their desk, or simply say thank you to them sincerely. To show my appreciation for educators, I interviewed some local teachers in Las Vegas.
Dr. Melissa Giovanni
A Responsibility To Teach Students About Climate Change
Dr. Melissa Giovanni, a teacher for 15 years, is passionate about raising students’ awareness of environmental issues and climate change. Dr. Giovanni spent nine years teaching Geology and six years teaching environmental science. She now teaches Environmental Science 101 at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN).
When asked about what drove her to enter and stay in her career, she said that teaching has always been her passion.
“I’ve always been inspired by Dr. Carl Sagan to take complex scientific ideas and share them as stories that everyone can understand. I moved away from a research-focused career path in order to spend all of my time teaching,” she said. “I’m staying in education because as the climate crisis worsens, we need everyone to understand the severity of the problems and, most importantly, what they can do about it.”
Apart from the physical knowledge about the environment, Dr. Giovanni focuses on guiding students to think about what they can do to save the planet. I took her class this semester, and I read a lot of news articles about the actions we can take to de-escalate the severity of the climate crisis. For each topic, Dr. Giovanni asked her students to write a reflection on different kinds of current environmental issues, such as aquatic pollution, hazardous solid waste, recycling scams, and animal extinction.
Education—Another Way To Save The Earth
For environmental scientists like Dr. Giovanni, it’s easy to feel powerless as they know the world is changing too fast, and we are too vulnerable to bear all the ramifications of climate change. However, Dr. Giovanni isn’t giving up on alerting students about taking action. She is adamant that we still have a chance to change the world as long as we are willing to take action right now.
When asked about her most unforgettable memory during her teaching journey, Dr. Giovanni said she has so many stories.
“…[Honestly], the best thing is every time I get an email from a student saying, “I had no idea how bad things in the world are, but now I know what I can do to help”… yeah, that’s the best,” she said.
Dr. Giovanni also shared that she’s pleased whenever her students plant a tree in her honor. It brings so much joy and satisfaction to her as her students take action to help preserve the environment. Environmental Science is intimately related to our daily lives, even when we don’t realize it. In her class, Dr. Giovanni provides many valuable resources on dealing with the consequences of climate change and, most importantly, what we can contribute to the world as human beings. She also heads the Eco Coyotes Club, an environmental club of CSN students.
When asked the ways students can show their appreciation to teachers that help and encourage them, Dr. Giovanni said, “The best is just expressing their appreciation – however they choose. It’s really nice to know that our efforts are noticed and appreciated.”
Dr. Timothy James
Teachers That Change Lives For The Better
Dr. Timothy James, a journalism professor at CSN, has taught for 35 years, starting his career in 1987 and teaching at CSN since 1999. When it comes to the reasons encouraging him to be a teacher, Dr. James shared that he is a first-generation college graduate.
“Initially, I stayed in academia because it was an area that I understood and could do well in. Over the years, I’ve increasingly come to appreciate that I’m able to guide students in the same ways that many professors guided me in my early college years,” he said. “I genuinely believe that what my colleagues and I do can change people’s lives for the better; I like being part of that.”
When Dr. James was in high school, going to college was something he had never thought of. Back in the days when sending children to college was only afforded by affluent families, Dr. James’s family wasn’t financially capable of making his college dream come true. Then, one day, his sociology teacher asked him quite abruptly during a conversation, “What do you mean you’re not going to college?” The teacher then worked with the school guidance counselor to help Dr. James fill out applications and scholarship forms. At that moment, Dr. James’s college dream was now achievable.
Reversed Roles
Because of the help of his teachers, Dr. James felt determined to be a teacher that not only teaches but also guides and assists students in pursuing their dreams.
“Many years later, when I was a professor at a college in Philadelphia, I was talking to a student during office hours and mentioned, in passing, something about him going to graduate school. His response was one of surprise; apparently, the idea of graduate school had never occurred to him,” he said. “I suddenly realized that I had just planted the seed of an idea that could potentially change the course of his life. And just like that, I also realized that I was now back in the same situation I was once in in high school, only now the roles were reversed. I decided that day to make certain that I would never miss an opportunity to let a student know of their possibilities and options.”
Migraines and Memories
Being such an experienced teacher for 35 years, Dr. James still encountered issues that caused him headaches. For example, he provides clear instructions to students on assignments and coursework and aims for consistency when he grades.
“So it bothers me considerably when it becomes clear that a student has not read the instructions or has apparently not read any of the feedback I provided in earlier assignments,” he said. “They repeat the same mistakes, and it’s frustrating that I spent considerable time trying to help them avoid doing just that.”
Dr. James’ experience isn’t always a headache; it’s more often rewarding and memorable. Sharing one of his most cherished memories, he spoke of a drawing a student did on a sticky note during one of his classes.
“It was a drawing of me teaching and uttering one of my more cliché sayings. The student presented it to me after class as a gift,” he said. “I knew from context and experience that it was meant as an act of appreciation, and it was truly heartfelt. I think the most touching thing for me is when students come to trust me enough that they can feel comfortable joking with me or even teasing me during class.”
To show appreciation for teachers, Dr. James suggests students send emails to their teachers and let them know their efforts are appreciated.
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Ms. Athalie Cho
Teach What You Love
Ms. Athalie Cho, a K-5th grade teacher in elementary music, is passionate about music and education. Ms. Cho is new to the education field as this is her first year teaching. Having studied music for her major in college, she is fond of teaching students what she knows about music.
“The reasons driving me to step into the education field were first my love for music and my love for teaching people. I love that moment when a student’s eyes light up when they finally understand something, or the satisfaction after a concert from all the hard work that the performers put in,” she said. “My love for music really helped when it came to picking what to teach. I love watching my students have fun singing and dancing while learning more about the background of music.”
Teaching music is fun as it encompasses a lot of interaction and communication. Ms. Cho enjoys singing to her students and answering their questions about what she’s interested in. When asked about the most unforgettable moment in her new teaching journey, she recalled a student giving her a paper with a song that he had written. The student then asked her to help him finish the song. “Knowing that the students want my help to further their education is something that touches my heart.”
Though teaching engenders satisfaction and fulfillment, some things cause Ms. Cho headaches. For example, she feels frustrated whenever a class is out of control and when the students refuse to listen and follow directions. “There are classes where the students can’t sit still or can’t stop talking, which causes delays and ends up with the class suffering,” she said. “There are also some students who don’t like you, and those students give me headaches when they refuse to listen.”
When asked about the most touching ways for students to show their appreciation to teachers, Ms. Cho said giving a letter with sweet words or drawings that are related to the teacher are some excellent suggestions. However, she reminded students that the least suitable way to show appreciation is by giving expensive gifts.
Showing Appreciation To Teachers
The roles of teachers have changed tremendously because of education moving from in-person to online during the pandemic. The new way of teaching involves using online platforms and tools like Zoom and Google Meet for classes. The relationship between teachers and students seems to be more distant as we don’t always meet face-to-face.
To make the relationship tight and close again, show your appreciation to teachers. Teachers work hard to plant seeds of inspiration, and they deserve recognition from the community. So don’t hesitate to send an email with heartfelt appreciation to your teachers! Imagine how your words can light up their days and rejuvenate their mind for a long journey ahead.
And show appreciation for teachers by supporting them in the classroom and across the district. Our educators are greatly lacking the funding and support they need from the school district, and they need our help to ensure they can continue to do their job efficiently and effectively. Attend school board meetings, advocate for our educators, voice your support for teachers, and call out the issues that they face.
