NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY
National Teacher Appreciation Day, also known as National Teacher Day, is observed on the Tuesday of the first full week in May. In 2018, National Teacher Day will take place on May 8th. This day is part of Teacher Appreciation Week, which is the first full week in May of each year.
The National Education Association describes National Teacher Day “as a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives.”
Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our country. They are kind, patient, hard-working, dedicated and understanding professionals that mold our children’s lives in a positive direction. We entrust our children with the teachers, and they affect their lives on a daily basis.
HOW TO OBSERVE
It is time to say “Thank You” to the exceptional teachers that you know. Let them know that they are appreciated for all that they do. Use #TeacherAppreciationDay or #NationalTeachersDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Political and educational leaders began discussions for a day to honor teachers in 1944. In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim National Teachers’ Day. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day. The National Education Association continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985 when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day.