Before I taught at CCA, I was Assistant Director of the Medical Records Department at Methodist Central Hospital in Dallas. I attended management classes taught by a retired high school principal, and after one of these classes, he asked me when I was going to do what God had called me to do. His question did not take me totally by surprise since I was struggling with not being in the classroom—my heart’s desire. I always felt I needed to be doing something with “eternal significance,” and, for me, that was teaching, a career that ended up being thirty-seven gratifying years at CCA.

In my substitute teaching now, I have the opportunity to see our teachers working out their own “eternal significance” in the paths God has prepared for them. I see humility in their calling, creativity in meeting various students’ needs, overwhelming love for those in their care, and complete dedication to helping their students see what is true, good, and beautiful. What a blessing these teachers are!

The Faculty and Staff Appreciation Committee wants to ensure our beloved faculty and staff members know how much our parents and students esteem them. The Christmas bonus and the monetary gift during Teacher Appreciation Week are tangible expressions of our gratitude and love for those working with our students every day.

In addition to the monetary gift, the committee wants to recognize our faculty and staff’s dedication and encourage them more than twice a year. On multiple occasions, teachers and staff members have told me how much the “kitchen fairies” have blessed them through their organization of teacher workrooms and provisions of snacks and water (especially in the high school). Many enjoy the special deliveries of Sonic drinks on occasion and the “treats” that suddenly appear in their workroom.  

Unexpected “delights” affirm the efforts of our enthusiastic and committed staff members.

Teachers also appreciate nice notes! If you have a student in an elementary grade, there are numerous websites to print out cards.

• • www.americangreetings.com has some free e-cards. You can personalize and send them to the teacher’s or staff member’s e-mail.
  • www.thesuburbanmom.com
  • www.fabercastell.com/blogs/creativity-for-life/coloring-pages-thank-you.
  • www.skiptomylou.org

By the way, teachers keep these notes for the days/lessons that may not go as planned, so they can get past feeling like a big zero.

Other ways to encourage teachers and staff might be recording a video of your student thanking the teacher for something specific they’ve learned or why they’re thankful to be in that teacher’s class. You could e-mail the video to the teacher (or text it if you share phone numbers).

Let us continue to spur each other on to love and good deeds!

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints. (Philemon 4 – 5)

Click here for more information about supporting the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Fund.