A Letter of Appreciation to Early Childhood Educators Everywhere

Dear Early Childhood Educators,

The Discovery Source recognizes the multi-faceted aspects of early childhood education and child development, and we are immensely grateful for your commitment to each child, their families, and our early childhood communities.

Early childhood teachers play a critical role in the early years of children’s lives as learning and brain development move rapidly during this time. We applaud you and offer our immense gratitude for your effort and dedication as simultaneous caregivers and educators.

We know that you are often responsible for more than children’s education and learning. You provide basic health care and serve meals. You are problem solvers and developmental experts, spanning a range of different ages and abilities. You are comforting embraces and safe spaces during the first few years of a child’s life. You are fierce advocates for your children and their families.

Early childhood educators have the honor of watching children’s learning grow and expand as they take in the world around them and the challenge of helping children understand and regulate their own emotions and behaviors.

Teaching is more than a career. It is a life-long learning experience that constantly requires new skills, strategies, and modifications. Teaching is a sense of purpose and engagement with families and communities.

During this National Teacher Appreciation Week, we want you to know a few things.

You are seen.

To the teachers leading children in an impromptu classroom yoga session to help them calm their bodies. We see you!

To the teachers on the floor with children despite their aching knees and sore backs. We see you!

To the teachers creating gorgeous, Pinterest-worthy classroom displays. We see you!

To the teachers letting go of their own ideas and rearranging their learning environment to adapt to their students’ needs. We see you!

To the teachers hiding their inner neat freak and allowing messy science experiments and open-ended art opportunities. We see you!

To the teachers waking up in the middle of the night thinking of activities and accommodations for their students and families. We see you!

To the teachers who are caregivers and/or parents outside of the classroom. We see you!

We see your sacrifice. We see your exhaustion. We see your resilience. We see your passion.

You are heard.

To the teachers sharing positive affirmations and empathetic words. We hear you!

To the teachers breathing deep sighs to manage their own stress and maintain positive classroom climates. We hear you!

To the teachers advocating for age-appropriate spaces, materials, and pedagogy with their leaders . We hear you!

To the teachers spending hours of their own time at home planning and preparing activities for school. We hear you!

To the teachers silencing the static of life and managing to stay present with their students. We hear you!

To the teachers having difficulty connecting with parents. We hear you!

To the teachers inviting parents and families to share their culture in your classroom. We hear you!

We hear your voices. Your ideas and feelings matter.

You are valued.

To the teachers who always knew they would be preschool teachers. We value you!

To the teachers who entered early childhood education later in life. We value you!

To the teachers using their creativity to stretch limited funding and resources. We value you!

To the teachers who make time to support their own mental health. We value you!

To the teachers encouraging and cultivating our future leaders. We value you!

To the teachers learning words in new languages to support their students. We value you!

You are important. We value you not only as teachers but as people. Your knowledge, skills, and disposition as professionals are priceless.

You are supported.

To the teachers learning new skills to support the developmental needs of their students. We support you!

To the teachers spending hours planning the perfect lessons. We support you!

To the teachers pivoting on a dime to follow a child’s focus and interests. We support you!

To the teachers guiding learning experiences without interjection. We support you!

To the teachers working through growing pains with their teaching teams. We support you!

We support your effort. We support your hard work. We support your tenacity.

You are needed.

To the teachers in public schools. We need you!

To the teachers in private schools. We need you!

To the teachers in center-based early childhood programs. We need you!

To the teachers and providers in family child care homes. We need you!

To the teachers providing early intervention services and inclusive education. We need you!

You are essential. We cannot do life without you!

You are powerful.

To the teachers in the first few years of their career and feeling excited about the future. You have the power to change lives!

To the teachers with years under their belt and feeling the burnout. You have the power to change lives!

To the teachers building brain connections and helping children access their previous knowledge to learn new things. You have the power to change lives!

To the teachers calming children with their presence and nourishing the development of social emotional skills that will stay with children forever. You have the power to change lives!

You are strong. You are special. You create magic in your programs.

You are changing the world.

To the teachers working with every age group from infants, to toddlers, to preschoolers, and above. Your impact is bigger than you could ever imagine!

To the teachers supporting our most vulnerable children. Your impact is bigger than you could ever imagine!

To the teachers who look at a child and see not only a student to be taught, but a future full of potential to be developed. Your impact is bigger than you could ever imagine!

You are shaping the future. You are game changers.

You are appreciated.

To the teachers fighting for every child to have equitable access to high-quality early childhood education programs. We appreciate you!

To the teachers celebrating a child’s successes and finding teaching opportunities in their mistakes. We appreciate you!

To the teachers keeping in contact with their students throughout the years. We appreciate you!

To the teachers taking continuing education courses, training, and college courses at night or on the weekends. We appreciate you!

You are incredible humans. You are admired beyond words.

You deserve more than a week.

You deserve respect. Not just a week!

You deserve higher salaries. Not just a week!

You deserve health care, benefits, and paid leave. Not just a week!

You deserve to be heard, validated, honored, and celebrated all year. A week is not enough!

Celebrate Yourselves and Each Other

We hope that you see yourself somewhere in this letter and know that you are making a difference, not just in your classrooms, but in the world.

This National Teacher Appreciation Week and every week, we want you to feel loved, recognized, acknowledged, and seen.

As a small token of our gratitude, The Discovery Source will be drawing winners each month for a $200 gift card. Sign up once and you’re automatically eligible every month.

In addition to our monthly drawings, The Discovery Source wants to make a difference in a veteran teacher’s life by sending them on a much deserved dream vacation.

You can nominate a veteran teacher (who has been teaching for 10+ years) for an all-expense paid trip anywhere in the world. Find out more and nominate an educator here.

Thanks for your hard work, teachers. You’re the best.

With humble gratitude,

The Discovery Source Family.