Opinion: Teachers Matter Now, More Than Ever

I remember the day I wrote my first "thank you" note to a teacher. My daughter was just completing kindergarten. I wanted her teacher, Mrs. McKay, to know my daughter looked forward to going to school almost every day and came home after school to excitedly show me her drawings.

So I wrote a short note thanking her for making my daughter's first year of school such a success.

I loved saying thank you to someone who made such an impact on my daughter's life. And Mrs. McKay made a point of stopping me at school to let me know how much she appreciated the note.

A lesson learned about the importance of "thank you."

We are living in a time when our teachers—now more than ever—need a note of thanks.

And as PTA, we have created a new opportunity for you to thank a teacher. PTA Teachers-Making A Difference Award is designed to showcase and publicize the outstanding dedication and support of teachers for PTA.

To recognize the special contributions of teachers at your school to PTA, California State PTA will select and feature their stories in our publications and on our website. Click here to read about some of our honored teachers.

Tell us about a teacher at your school and how that teacher’s dedication is so special. Honorees for this award should be:

• A PTA/PTSA member
• Credentialed teacher at a PTA school in California

Nominations can be made throughout the year. Every nominated teacher will receive a letter of appreciation and a certificate. One teacher's name will be drawn monthly for special recognition, a free registration to the California State PTA Annual Convention and a gift basket of software/hardware, valued at $100 to $200, donated by our newest Member Perks provider, JourneyEd.

Find the application to nominate PTA teachers, in English and in Spanish.

Carol Kocivar is the president of the California Parent-Teacher Association.