OUR TEACHERS ARE TIRED AND ON THE FRONT LINE, LET'S CELEBRATE THEM!
It is an uncertain and stressful time for everyone right now with COVID-19 changing the way we live. At Growing Up Greatness, we are very mindful of the stress on teachers at the moment, as they worry about the health of their students, themselves and their loved ones, and how to do the job they are being asked to do, including in many cases preparing face-to-face and online learning at the same time.
At Growing Up Greatness we are on a mission to make sure teachers feel valued and appreciated during this COVID-19 crisis.
In an already stressful job, this is an unprecedented time of stress, as teachers are feeling over-worked, under-appreciated, put-at-risk, taken advantage of, and physically and emotionally exhausted. They can't socially isolate even if they are in an at risk group, they can't
wear face masks, they don't always have access to sanitiser and soap, and they are as much on the front line as any of our emergency workers, as they are often the first to encounter sick children and families. This is a recipe for being run down, and definitely not the best way to be avoid a virus!
At Growing Up Greatness we want to affirm all the teachers and school leaders out there. You are appreciated, you are super-heroes, you are doing more than should be asked of you to do, and we stand with you. Please reach out to talk with someone you trust if you are feeling sick or overwhelmed, please keep communicating with your friends, family and colleagues about how you are traveling, please eat well, make time to sleep, do something each day that helps you unwind, and please don't lose hope. To school leaders who know your teams are exhausted, and yet you are shouldering all the worry for them as well as yourself, please reach out to a colleague to check-in.
THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP - IT’S SIMPLE!
To the parents and community out there who appreciate a teacher you have right now, please help us celebrate our teachers by sharing a story, comment, image or affirmation in the comments HERE or just do something thoughtful for your teacher. Share a photo of a card, gift or kind action you gave your teacher. What does your (or your child's) teacher mean to you? Why do you love your (or your child's) teacher? What do you want to say to encourage them? To remind them how wonderful they are? To say thank you? Don't forget the school leaders who may not be in front of a classroom, but are supporting teachers in their school...they need affirmation too! Even if schools close or start their holidays, many teachers and school leaders will still be preparing online and at-home materials, will be preparing for an uncertain future, will be worrying about their students and staff, and even worrying about their future employment.
Let's make our comments a celebration of our teachers so they know they are valued and appreciated as we all work together to figure out a new way to live and support one another in 2020.
