EDITORIAL: The critical role of teachers

As a society, we realize — or we should — the critical role that teachers play.

Few of us who are adults don’t look back from time to time on our days when we were in secondary school or college and reflect on an individual who had a special impact. Perhaps it was extra time taken to ensure you “got it” when learning a complicated math concept. Maybe it was a push to perform at a level that teacher knew you could achieve. It could have been a kind word that you needed at a critical time in your life. Or that teacher simply might have been someone you wanted to emulate out of respect.

That’s why we’re always happy to see the cream of the crop recognized, as happened this week with the Dougherty County School System. From the teacher of the year selections at each of the system’s schools, eight were selected as finalists. We profiled those eight in a series of articles this week. The process culminated Thursday night with the naming of Martin Luther King Elementary School second-grade teacher Jordan Waller as the system’s teacher of the year.

Waller noted that she makes efforts to create relationships with her students to help them achieve the self-confidence needed to achieve academically and in life. Her work obviously resonated with the selection committee.

But the other finalists and the individual school representatives in the teacher of the year selection process also have, each in his or her own way, demonstrated that high level of concern and effort. None of these teachers is an individual who sees teaching as a job that is just something you show up to do every day. They’re looking to have impact on young lives, and their success had led to their recognition.

Teachers touch lives in a way that cannot be overstated. We place a great deal of faith in them with our children, and those who shine at the work cast a glow on students that last a lifetime.

It’s not an easy job and, unfortunately, not everyone who tries to do it is up to the task. Those who are, however, leave something of themselves with their students, seeds of knowledge, behavior, inspiration that can — and sometimes does — change the community, state, nation … even the world.

As a teacher, you may not realize the influence you have. That kid who was struggling to read might grow up to write a great novel. That young girl you worked with on math might grow up to create a revolutionary computer system. The young boy who couldn’t quite understand his science lesson without your help may one day send a ship’s crew to Mars or find a cure for a chronic illness.

All great people start somewhere, and there’s usually a caring teacher at the forefront. Congratulations to those who were recognized this week, and to those who do this important job without the recognition. Teachers have a critical role in shaping the future, and this is a good time to remember that and to applaud these great efforts. The significance of their influence may not be fully known for years, but it will be felt.