Opinion
Recruitment & Retention Letter to the Editor

A Note of Appreciation 

July 12, 2022 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

I so appreciated Laurie Carr’s essay in the June 8 issue of Education Week and concur with how important it is to appreciate our colleagues (“How to Build a Healthier School Culture”).

Before I retired as a special education administrator, I made a habit of sending a personal thank-you note at the end of the school year to every staff member in my office. In each note, I tried to recount a particular incident that was special.

Also, on Monday mornings, I would email an inspirational or motivational quote just to kick off the week with some positive reflection. If I had to be out of the office on a Monday, several people would let me know they really missed it. This showed me how much my special note was appreciated and needed.

I had a wonderful staff that worked together so cohesively and I think they knew how much I appreciated and valued them, as well.

Terri Cooter
Retired Administrator
Moore, Okla.

A version of this article appeared in the July 13, 2022 edition of Education Week as A Note of Appreciation

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Early Childhood Webinar
How the Science of Reading Elevates Our Early Learners to Success
From the creators of ABCmouse, learn how a solution grounded in the science of reading can prepare our youngest learners for kindergarten.
Content provided by Age of Learning
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
English-Language Learners Webinar
Classroom Strategies for Building EL Students’ Confidence and Success
Fueling success for EL students who are learning new concepts while navigating an unfamiliar language. Join the national discussion of strategies and Q&A.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
Future of Work Live Online Discussion Seat at the Table: Understanding the Critical Link Between Student Mental Health and the Future of Work
In recent months, there’s been a rallying cry against the teaching of social-emotional skills. Discover why students need these skills now more than ever.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Recruitment & Retention How Bad Is the Teacher Shortage? What Two New Studies Say
Despite alarming headlines, no real-time data on shortages is available. But the labor market has shrunk, and turnover is ticking up.
6 min read
Image of exit doors.
Laura Baker/Education Week and iStock/Getty
Recruitment & Retention Here's How the White House Is Tackling Teacher Shortages
Jill Biden helped roll out the administration's three-part plan, which underscores recruitment, higher pay, and hands-on training.
6 min read
First lady Jill Biden, second from right, speaks during a meeting with, from left, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education President Lynn Gangon, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, during a White House Domestic Policy Council meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The first lady, who is a teacher herself, participated in the meeting on ways to support schools in an effort to address teacher shortages as the new school year begins.
First lady Jill Biden, second from right, discusses how to support teacher recruitment and retention with a panel of experts at the White House. From left: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education President Lynn Gangone, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
Susan Walsh/AP
Recruitment & Retention Letter to the Editor Let’s Think About How to Prevent Teacher Shortages
We need to hold the career of teaching in higher esteem, writes an educator in this letter to the editor.
1 min read
Illustration of an open laptop receiving an email.
iStock/Getty
Recruitment & Retention Opinion When It Comes to the Teacher Shortage, Who's Abandoning Whom?
Are teachers really leaving the school system or just an archaic model that we should all leave behind?
Michael Fullan & Joanna Rizzotto
6 min read
shutterstock 1114293509
Shutterstock