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For editorial information,
contact Karon Schaack at karon.schaack@state.sd.us.

It is the policy of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs to provide services to all persons, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, ancestry, or national origin, in accordance with federal and state laws.

My Favorite Teacher

If you were to ask an adult this question:  “Who was your favorite superintendent?”  my guess is that you would get a blank stare or a quizzical look.  Most people would probably acknowledge that they do not remember who the superintendent was when they were in school.  If you asked about their favorite principal, you would get more positive responses.  However, if you ask the question, “Who was your favorite teacher?”  everyone would have one or two examples.

May 2 – 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Week.  It is a time for educators and community members to say “thanks” to a group of people who daily touch the lives of their students.  Each day when the school bell rings, public school teachers across this country accept students into their classrooms and help them to move one step closer to being fully-functioning adults.  Teachers don’t do it for the honor or recognition of being a “favorite teacher.”  Rather, they do it because somewhere along the line they felt a calling to invest their time and talents into the lives of young people.

All of us have a “favorite teacher.”  My list is long.  It includes Mrs. Bruner who taught me in grades 2 & 7 in the Geddes school district. (I felt sorry for her – two years of hard work!)  I remember Mr. Bely who taught grammar at the high school to a bunch of students who weren’t convinced that we needed it (we did!).  Dr. Frances Falen at DWU helped convince me that I could be a good elementary teacher and Dr. Darrell Jensen at SDSU motivated me to be an administrator.

You have your list as well.  Have you thanked them lately?  Have you told the teachers that impacted you that the mark is still there?  It’s never too late to send a note to that special person who helped you believe that you truly are a special person with special talents.  While you are at it, surprise your former principals and superintendents and thank them as well!

From the staff at the South Dakota Department of Education, we want to thank all of our state’s classroom teachers for their dedication to the young people of South Dakota.