Though it should occur more frequently throughout the year, Teacher Appreciation Day is a wonderful time to celebrate teachers. Every spring, we pause and reflect on the central role teachers have played in our lives, as well as in the lives of over 500,000 students attending public schools across Connecticut each day.
Most employers will attest to the fact that their most valued employees are responsible and motivated. They work effectively with others, they know how to think critically, they consider diverse views and grapple with difficult problems. A new report confirms that these same abilities that lead to career success are also required for students to succeed in school.
From their perspective on the frontlines of education, teachers know the incredible complexity and importance of the work they do. In addition to developing cognitive skills in academic subjects like reading and math, teachers must develop a wide range of social and emotional skills — helping students learn how to persevere through frustrations and challenges, how to cooperate and work effectively with peers, and how to believe in themselves as learners and individuals.
If we support a holistic approach to education, we can transform prospects for prosperity across the state so more young people can realize their untapped potential. And better still, we know what’s needed to produce the results we seek for all students.