04/27/04

Throughout history the Department of Defense schools have made excellence in education their priority. Our organization is publicly recognized and respected as a world-class educational system. Much of our exposure and many of our achievements can be directly attributed to one individual who makes all the difference in the world to each and every child-the teacher.

Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-8, 2004 , gives each of us an opportunity to celebrate and to thank our DoDDS Pacific teachers for their dedicated service, tireless contributions and committed efforts in teaching our children. Teachers are worthy of our respect and admiration and are deeply deserving of our praise and appreciation. Each year teachers are called upon to accomplish more, and they have championed that call to meet the deluge of rising expectations and increased accountability for student learning.

On National Teacher Day, May 4, I would like all of us to reflect on the outstanding contributions teachers have made to ensure the achievement of our students.

Teachers are at the very core of our mission to prepare all students for success in a global environment. Teachers are the inspiration behind instruction. No one is asked to balance more extremes, and no one does it more skillfully. It is the teacher who provides support and comfort and, at the same time, fosters autonomy and independence for each child. It is the teacher who offers each student the opportunity to explore the world of fantasy , yet grounds that student in reality. The teacher must allow an appropriate amount of natural expression and, simultaneously, maintain the boundaries for acceptable behavior. The teacher must be an efficient agent of learning , yet avoid becoming inflexible. Teachers are responsible for ensuring that every student shows progress toward specific standards and accomplishes this in creative, unique and motivating learning environments. There is no boundary to the richness of academic experiences and no limit to the social, emotional, and career development support that teachers give students. There is no exception to the fact that teachers' interactions with our children leave an indelible impression in our global society.

You have a tremendous impact on our ability to accomplish our strategic goals. I have great respect for your professionalism and the seriousness with which you take your mission. Thank you for your tireless contributions and unwavering efforts to make our educational system one of the best in the world!

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific