Lawrence Public Schools

National Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5-9, 2025

Hello, Lawrence Public Schools Teachers,

A quality teacher makes all the difference in student growth and learning, both for today, during this school year, and across the arc of a child’s development and life. Our students benefit tremendously from their quality learning experiences in our classrooms under the guidance of our extraordinary Lawrence Public Schools teachers.

Teachers, you make a remarkable and profound difference for our students each day in significant, inspiring ways. Our respect and gratitude continue to deepen for the role our teachers fulfill in persevering, overcoming to achieve our critical mission to care for, connect, and serve our students and families, often despite extraordinary challenges.

Steps We Can Take to Turn Appreciation into Action

During this Teacher Appreciation Week, I hope that we will all take a moment to reach out to extend our gratitude and support directly with a valued teacher. I hope we will also encourage our students to reach out to share words of gratitude. We know our teachers do all they can for their students, and it’s also important that we take steps to support our teachers. Transforming our appreciation into action also protects students, strengthens public schools, and ensures educators are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Beyond sharing kind words and treats, across Lawrence Public Schools, let’s also consider steps to take action.

Help educators know just how appreciated they are by taking action: learn how to make your voice heard locally, or share a positive message on social media, tagging @NEAToday and using #ThankATeacher. You may learn more about this national effort here.

To our Lawrence Public Schools teachers: the power of your daily connections, care, and compassion for students nurtures strong relationships and transformative learning and growth for students. We are all inspired as you continue to demonstrate that the classroom is much more than a physical location; connections and learning extend far beyond the physical walls of the school and into the lives of students, their families, and our Lawrence community.

During this Teacher Appreciation Week, and every week, we celebrate you, our teachers. The unmistakable impact of your remarkable work gives us all hope for brighter days ahead.

Teaching is an act of love.

We teach who we are - our values, character;

our identity shows up wherever we show up -

and the act of teaching requires love and is a loving act.

- Richard Haynes - NYC Men Teach

With Much Gratitude,

Jeanice Kerr Swift

Superintendent of Schools

Lawrence Public Schools