A Salute to Teachers
Late August marks the end of summer for families as a new school year begins. Our kids started school last week and many of our younger employees at Footers have already headed back to high school or college. It marks a bittersweet time with a mix of emotions as a new chapter begins. I often think about how easy it is to recall the timing of events during those years because time could be measured by each school year and the corresponding breaks. In my professional life, without a new grade, spring break or summer break each year, the years seem to fly by getting lumped together in chunks. It’s interesting to reflect on that time and the people around us as it had a great impact on shaping the people we are today. In a discussion this week led by my friend Johnny Hyde, we talked about the educators that influenced our lives. From grade school to college, we shared stories of lessons we’d learned, teachers that believed in us and professors that inspired us.
Like hospitality, where the main focus of our industry has long been on the guests over the employees, the education system has emphasized the needs of the students, often overlooking the teachers that serve them. It’s sad to me that teaching is one of the most thankless professions and teacher salaries lag far behind workers in other industries with similar levels of education. In Colorado that gap is estimated to be 36% less. Add in the additional scrutiny that they face from overbearing parents and being pawns in political clashes and it’s no surprise that our nation is facing a shortage of educators.
I’m eternally grateful for the teachers I’ve had in my life. Sure, there were a few duds along the way, but many had a tremendous impact on my life. For me there was Mrs. Frank in 6th grade who saw my potential and encouraged me to form a student council when one didn’t exist at our school. Mr. Dicker who taught me about perseverance through solving math problems in front of the class in 8th grade. In high school, Mrs. Daly showed me that when you encouraged fun in the classroom, students were actually more productive and engaged. There was Mr. Mckinney who wasn’t afraid of “looking silly” when he would dress or bring in props to reinforce his lessons. In college there was Mr. Bill who opened my eyes to the power of spreadsheets and also inspired me to never hit the snooze button. And Dr. Howard whose expertise, enthusiasm, and kindness inspired me to learn about a variety of subjects outside the classroom.
I would like to offer a heartfelt “Thank You” to all the teachers out there. I assume that most teachers know they are changing lives (at least the good ones) and I also assume that they don’t hear very often about just how impactful they were. By the time we appreciate the lessons learned or how a teacher shifted our focus, many years may have passed. We lose touch with them and figure that they wouldn’t remember us if we did reach out. This week I’m committing to reaching out to one of my teachers every day to thank them and share how they influenced my life. It may be a small effort, but I hope it brings some joy and fulfillment to their day and the satisfaction of knowing they made a difference. I hope you’ll join me in this challenge and show some love for people that often don’t get enough of it.