DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam proudly joins the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and school districts all over the country in recognizing our teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week - May 3-9.   

Each of us can remember a favorite teacher who had a significant impact on our lives.  That person may have sparked a passion for writing, reading, science, or mathematics or may have taken the time to listen when no one else would.  Often it was a teacher who influenced our own life in a meaningful way and that is the reason we became educators.  Recently, I remembered what my parents explained to me as a child growing up in New England about education.  They said that education represents one of the few gifts in life that no one can ever take away.  You have given that gift.

Despite the enormous demands of your position, it is critical to remember that our students carry more burdens than their stateside counterparts.  Parent deployments and simply living overseas places an additional emotional weight on them.  Children need someone to look up to, and for many of our students, that person is you.  You make a difference in someone’s life every day.

In comparison to many stateside school systems, our students continue to excel in academics as demonstrated by the results from standardized tests.  The number of graduating seniors moving to post secondary universities remains very high.  Students enrolled in professional technical studies secure responsible positions within the business community.  Our Far East activities and programs showcase the passions of our students as they develop the confidence needed to become leaders in our society.  Their success is a direct result of your ability, compassion, knowledge, and experience providing them enthusiasm for learning.

I am sincerely grateful to all the Pacific teachers for your allegiance to our students, schools, and communities.  I am excited about the future and about working with such fine educators, who remain role models for our students.  Please take some time this week to reflect on your contributions and to celebrate your success.  You deserve it!