 There we were, in the cafeteria, 2:00 PM, all 7th grade teachers and their students, sitting on the cafeteria wood floor, the air still smelling like noon's lunch of cheeseburgers and tater-tots. We were at our monthly student assembly which had recently become so successful at recognizing students that these monthly gatherings had started taking on a life of their own. We teachers forget sometimes that recognizing students for excellent academic achievement or improvement can sometimes yield impressive results not only for the students themselves but for the entire school culture as well. The school wide assembly had developed over 3-5 years into one of the big high-lights of the year. For seven months out of the year, excluding August and June, the entire 7th grade class would meet in our cafeteria for one full hour at 2:00 PM. It was scheduled for the 4th Friday of every month. And, it was so successful that I think the teachers looked forward to these assemblies as much as the students. It was in these assemblies that each teacher could make public all the great things their students were accomplishing. It never failed to impress me. The students during that hour, were unusually quiet and well behaved with only soft chatter of week-end plans humming around the cafeteria. The parents were notified two or three days ahead when their child had been chosen as "Student of the Month." The parents would get off work early to join their child in the celebration and presentation of the award. And almost always we had 100% parent attendance--who said parents don't go to school functions! The parents came into the cafeteria with helium filled balloons high up in the air. Mom and dad brought grandma, siblings, and any visiting relative willing to go. Some carried gifts under their arms. Some a bouquet of roses; others, those big, giant candy bars. Most brought gifts and smiles to the cafeteria. Once the assembly started, the principal reminded the students they needed to be on their "A+" behavior because we had special guests. The students who saw their parents in attendance were filled with anxiety and hot flashes waiting for their name to be called. The teachers would go up one by one and announce their student of the month and call the students up to the stage and the parents would also walk up and meet the kids there with a big hug, a kiss, a huge smile. It was great, inspirational, especially when the most improved kids were rewarded . . . then it hit me! We need one of these assemblies but for TEACHERS! Yes, teachers. We can have monthly assemblies to name the "Teacher of the month." The principal can go up to the microphone and tell of all the great things the teacher accomplished that month and give them a special prize, a framed certificate, a bouquet of roses. Teachers, like students, need to be recognized. We should also recognize "improving teachers" as well. We need to make known all the great things the teachers are doing in their classes. And if it's OK with the teacher, we can invite their spouse, their children, and maybe their parents might fly in from New York or Nebraska. And we can hope the teacher's family also comes to the cafeteria with helium filled balloons and gifts in their arms. For 10 years, I was room 12, while Mrs. Garcia was room 11. This veteran of 20 years worked so hard and accomplished so much with her students. She was a master teacher, but more importantly, she was well liked by the students and well respected by her colleagues but the recognition was seldom public. It came through hugs from her 6th graders on June 12, it came from the gifts she received from the rookies she mentored, and it came from parents who were always happy to see her at the local markets or at the bank on Saturdays and gave her many thanks for taking special interest in "their child." For giving special attention to "their kid," not knowing she treated every student special.
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