Six Ideas for Superintendents for Teacher Appreciation Week 2023

Teacher Appreciation Week is a great opportunity for school administrators to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of their teachers.  We’ve pulled together some ideas for you to show your teachers how important they are, even if you have little to no budget!

Why is Teacher Appreciation Week Important?

Being a teacher can sometimes feel like a thankless job with ever-changing requirements and standards, all while bearing the responsibility of shaping our future generations.

Research.com shares that “in the United States, 44% of teachers in K-12 education said they very often or always feel burned out at work.”

It’s no wonder why we’re seeing teachers leave the profession at such high rates. Last month, Chalkbeat.com published, Teacher turnover hits new highs across the U.S., stating “turnover was at its highest point in at least five years — typically around 2 percentage points greater than before the pandemic.” These stats reflect data gathered for the 2021-2022 school year.

The state of the profession calls for even greater emphasis on the importance of retention, and one way to do that is to create a culture of appreciation and support for your educators.

Top Six Ideas for Admins for Teacher Appreciation Week

Here are some ideas for how superintendents and school administrators can show appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week 2023:

1. Write a personal note

Take the time to write a heartfelt note to each teacher expressing your appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Be specific about what you appreciate and how it has impacted the school and the students.

2. Host a breakfast or lunch

Organize a special breakfast or lunch for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. This could be a potluck, a catered event, or a simple spread of coffee and donuts. The important thing is to give teachers a chance to gather together and enjoy each other’s company.

3. Dress-down week

Most teachers love the chance to wear jeans on Fridays. Why not extend dress-down day to the entire week? This free gesture of appreciation shows that you’re in tune with what your teachers care about and encourages them to be more comfortable.

4. Allow for some extra planning time

One way to show appreciation for teachers is to provide them with some extra planning time. This could mean cancelling a meeting, hiring a substitute teacher for the day, or simply allowing teachers to leave a little early.

Teachergoals.com suggests an “administrator tag-out.” We love this idea because it doesn’t cost anything and gives principals or central office admin a chance to have more facetime with the students. Even if you take over the class for 30 minutes to give the teacher a chance to take a walk or get a snack, this simple gesture can go a long way!

5. Publicly acknowledge teachers

Use social media, the school website, or the school newsletter to publicly acknowledge teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Share stories about how teachers have impacted students’ lives or recognize teachers for their years of service.

Some districts create videos for their websites, YouTube, or social media. Other cites have recommended involving parents and students to share their stories and the impact their teachers have had on them.

 

6. Provide professional development opportunities

Another way to show appreciation for teachers is to provide them with professional development opportunities. This could be a workshop or conference related to their subject area or a training on a new technology or teaching strategy.

Overall, showing appreciation for teachers is about acknowledging their hard work and dedication. The most important thing is to be sincere and show that you value and appreciate everything that teachers do for their students and the school community.