Great Teachers Give Life to the Dreams of Our Children

From the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents, it’s the person standing at the front of the classroom.

-President Barack Obama speaking to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, March 9, 2009

So many of us remember that one teacher who helped us read our first words or explained a math concept we never thought we’d understand. And sadly, how many remember the teacher who made you lose interest in music or history or science? One great teacher has the power to impact literally hundreds and thousands of lives, ignite the passion for learning, and open an infinite number of doors to a better future for our world for generations to come. There is no more meaningful opportunity nor greater responsibility. Great teachers give life to the dreams of our children.

But unlike the teacher in front of the classroom that President Obama described, teachers of today do not just stand in front of classrooms. Great teachers are just as important in early childhood education, where they are rarely seen at the “front” of a room. They are seemingly everywhere in the classroom, ensuring that there are purposeful learning activities in interest centers all around the room. They talk individually with children, listening to their words and encouraging them to take risks and master new skills and concepts in a safe and positive environment. And they always find the time to partner with you as parents, each child’s most important teacher, bridging the gap between your home and their school environment. At the other end of the spectrum, as technology becomes a critical component of our educational system, that great teacher may be a virtual teacher, but is still there to guide, support, and enhance a child’s or adult’s learning experience. While the ways teachers interact with their students has changed, and will continue to change, their fundamental role will not be replaced.

To recognize those who exemplify the highest standards of excellence in teaching in early childhood education, Knowledge Learning Corporation introduced the Knowledge Universe Early Childhood Educator Awards last year, selecting five outstanding early childhood educators from the over 40,000 educators in KinderCare Learning Centers, CCLC, and Knowledge Beginnings. In addition to a surprise announcement at their centers, each of these amazing teachers received a $10,000 award and was flown to the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), where they were given national recognition in front of their peers at a reception in their honor. I encourage you to learn more about these accomplished teachers who received the Early Childhood Educator Awards and the difference they make in the lives of their children. This award was modeled after the Milken Family Foundation Educator Awards, where nearly 100 outstanding public school educators are recognized by the Milken Family Foundation every year. Recipients are given a $25,000 award and are flown to Los Angeles to participate in a National Education Conference sponsored by the Milken Family foundation and highlighted by an Awards Dinner and Gala. I was privileged to be able to attend this event this year, and I assure that there truly is no more powerful and uplifting experience. Please learn more about this year’s Milken Educator Awards.

I am truly honored to be associated with a company that treats teachers like the professionals they are, recognizes the importance of great teaching, and rewards excellence. But it is not the money or the ceremony that matter most. The teachers who are selected for these awards are truly distinctive, but they represent the hundreds of thousands of dedicated teachers everywhere, who quietly and purposefully make a difference every day in the life of a child, a family, and a community. Their reward is not monetary; it is not fame or glory. It is the hugs they get from the children they care for, the look of triumph in a child’s eyes when a difficult concept is mastered, and the knowledge that the world is a better place because they are in it. Please take an extra moment today and every day that you can to thank your child’s teachers for sharing their skills, talents, experiences, and passion. Your child’s future and all of our futures are in their capable and caring hands.

2 Comments

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  By Jerod Stoltz, May 8, 2009 @ 9:30 am

  I appreciate this posting. Early childhood development is absolutely critical to children and I think the competency of the teachers in a child’s life is of utmost importance. I was lucky to have great teachers in my life all the way through college. For me, the best teachers were ones who pushed me to do my best, who always asked those follow up questions of “Why?” and “How?”. We need more of these teachers in our children’s lives. Thank you for the posting.

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  By Heather Morcomb, May 16, 2009 @ 5:27 pm

  You stopped me dead in my tracks with the second sentence this afternoon: “And sadly, how many remember the teacher who made you lose interest in music or history or science?” Having been in the industry for 21 years, I’ve strived to be the teacher/mentor that a child would remember. The one who would make a difference. And to reflect back on being in a position to have the ability to cause a child to lose interest in anything is devestating. It’s really making me step back and as a Center Director, bring this thought and theory to the forefront of my teachers thoughts and actions. We all do our best to be the best, but to be extra cautious of our words and actions is always better.

  “I am truly honored to be associated with a company that treats teachers like the professionals they are, recognizes the importance of great teaching, and rewards excellence. But it is not the money or the ceremony that matter most….It is the hugs they get from the children they care for, the look of triumph in a child’s eyes when a difficult concept is mastered, and the knowledge that the world is a better place because they are in it.”—you couldn’t have said it better. Our jobs are demanding of patience, time and talent every second of every minute of every hour of every day and it’s worth every ounce of energy we expel to be who we are.

  Thank you for your inspiring and motivating words.

  Heather Morcomb
  Center Director
  KC #300953
  Mesa, AZ

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