Honoring Teachers by Giving Them What They Need to Stay - and Thrive
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!
A heartfelt thank you to all of the teachers out there—the ones who shaped me as a student and a colleague, the ones who continue to support my three kids, and every educator who works tirelessly to meet the unique needs of all students.
As we reflect on how critical educators are to our future, it’s a reminder that appreciation goes beyond celebration (although a week of well-deserved gifts and treats is wonderful!). It’s about building lasting support for those who shape the next generation.
The future of our students - and our communities - starts with the adults they see in front of the classroom each day.
Today, I want to focus on what the research tells us educators need in order to stay in the profession and to continue inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation’s Teaching for Tomorrow study paints a sobering picture: while two-thirds of teachers are satisfied with their current school, nearly one in five are uncertain whether they’ll return next year. The ripple effects of burnout, unclear expectations, and lack of support are real and growing.
But here’s the good news: we know what makes a difference.
Let’s start with a question:
If your child walked into a classroom tomorrow, who would you want waiting to greet them?
- An engaged teacher, alive with purpose, who knows how to draw out each student’s potential?
- A not engaged teacher, just doing the job, running on empty, day after day?
- Or an actively disengaged teacher, so depleted they’re dragging others down with them?
We all know the answer. Our kids deserve the first kind of teacher. So do their classmates. So do our communities. And every teacher wants to be that teacher.
But engaged educators don’t happen by chance.
They're supported, equipped, and empowered - on purpose.
The research offers us a roadmap forward:
🔹 Help teachers do what they do best. Those who use their strengths daily are more than 50 percentage points more likely to love their job.
🔹 Prioritize real collaboration. When teachers feel part of a team, not isolated in their work, engagement soars and best practices spread.
🔹 Strengthen leadership. Teachers stay when they feel seen, valued, and supported by those who lead them.
🔹 Fuel excitement - for both teachers and students. When teachers love what they teach, students feel it. And when students are engaged, everything changes.
This is how we reclaim the joy in teaching.
This is how we ignite possibility in our schools.
This is how we build a better future - one classroom at a time.
And the ripple effects? They don’t stop at the school doors. They extend into families, communities, and the lives students will go on to build.
At Spark Engagement, this is exactly the work I do: helping schools and districts bring these research-based insights to life. When we invest in the people who invest in our children, everyone wins.
To every teacher:
I hope you feel appreciated, not just this week, but every day.
I hope you're surrounded by leaders and colleagues who see your strengths, honor your impact, and invest in what you need to thrive.
You deserve to work in environments where you can do your best work, where your passion stays alive, and where your influence reaches far beyond the classroom.
Thank you for everything you do for your students, for your communities, and for the future we’re all building together.
