Teachers of Tomorrow celebrate appreciation week

Jordan Leigh Haiduk / The Bulletin

Chris Jansen, senior biology major, decorates a postcard for a teacher. May 4 through May 10 is National Teachers’ Appreciation week.

Teachers of Tomorrow gave students a chance to show appreciation for the many educators who continue to guide learners and help them reach their goals. Many multi-colored postcards, each with an individual handwritten message, filled a table in the Memorial Union as students stopped by to show their appreciation this week.

May 4-10 is National Teachers’ Appreciation week and May 6 is Teachers’ Appreciation Day. Teachers’ Appreciation Day is the U.S. version of an international holiday to celebrate educators’ contributions to the world.

“It’s a nice thing to know teachers are getting some appreciation,” said Sarah Campbell, sophomore elementary education major.

Campbell was one of many volunteers who worked the table.

“We know how much it means to teachers to hear appreciation for their work from students,” said Ila Engler, senior elementary education major and treasurer of Teachers of Tomorrow. “We wanted students to get the opportunity to show appreciation for the teachers that they have had.”

Campbell is the president elect for Teachers of Tomorrow, and will take over the organization’s student leadership duties in the fall. Current President Laura Graveman has been with the organization for two years, but has stepped up to lead the group through this eventful year.

To try to boost involvement, Graveman added a points system for events, awarding the member with the most participation points at the end of the year. The group awarded its Member of the Year to Tiffany Morrow, junior elementary education major.

Teachers of Tomorrow have hosted various lecturers and guests to speak about issues relating to the teaching profession. They have also organized a pizza lunch with superintendent of Emporia schools John Heim.

“There were a lot of great questions for him,” said Lendi Bland, faculty advisor to Teachers of Tomorrow.

At each event, members get to talk with professionals to bridge the gap between their roles as college students and their careers as teachers.

Though the group conducts many professional development sessions, they have fun with other special outings. For instance, the group held a garage sale last week to raise funds for upcoming events. They have even planned a trip to the site of the landmark civil rights case, Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka, Kan.

Bland said she has been impressed with the group’s ability to govern and lead. “It’s been great, because they really are a student-run organization,” Bland said. “They really took the reins.”

Bland also said group members have pitched in more than she could have hoped for. For instance, after a recent speaker came, Bland asked the group to send thank-you notes. The officers responded that the notes had already been sent.

“I’ll think of things to do and ask them about them, and they’ve already done it, and then some.”