Appreciation for Educators
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9 this year and The Community Foundation wanted to help celebrate big in Hancock County.
I always wanted to be a teacher. I fell in love with teaching at Lincoln Elementary School, where I had a phenomenal second grade teacher (Mrs. Julie Miller, who I hope is reminded every day of the difference she made). I loved my teachers before then, but second grade is the year I looked up to teachers and knew I wanted to be like them. The same year, my mom started working as the school secretary at Jacobs Elementary School. I spent hours visiting my mom at work – strolling the halls and helping teachers. I spent the beginning of the summer at Jacobs with teachers cleaning up after a successful school year and helping prep their classrooms for new students. The list of teachers I spent time with goes on and on and I think of them often.
During my time as a student at Findlay City Schools, and later at The University of Findlay, I was lucky enough to have amazing teachers who, in their classroom or in a club or activity, did everything they could to challenge me to be my best and help me figure out the person I wanted to become. Not only did these teachers challenge and support me personally, but they did this with every student, in every class, every year they taught. Teachers will never hear it enough, but thank you for your role in helping me become the person I am today.
Now, as a parent, I see the impact educators have on my daughter’s life. Mrs. Neuhofs and the entire team at Whittier have made this an amazing year for our daughter. The love and care they show every young person in their school brings me incredible joy and pride.
It's more than teachers – it’s every single person who works at a school – the paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, cooks, custodians, lunch monitors, bus drivers, administrators and countless others who make a school and school district work all make such a difference in our community’s greatest resource – our young people.
I’m so proud of our public schools in Hancock County and all those who work hard to make it the best experience possible for our youth. Each year, I have a pool of president’s discretionary funds to grant to important causes. This year, some of those funds are being used to sponsor staff appreciation efforts in each of the public schools in Hancock County. It’s a small way for the Foundation to say “thank you” to those preparing future generations.
To all who work in education in our community, thank you. Every single day, you make a difference. You change countless lives for the better and have a firsthand role in shaping the next leaders of our community and world.
Some days will be tougher than others, but know you’re appreciated and there are many people throughout our community rooting for you. Your success is our community’s success. YOU make a difference. Thank you for everything you do!
This editorial was originally printed in The Courier on May 20, 2025.
