I think it’s safe to say that most of us have gotten a much deeper appreciation for teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acting as “teacher” to my own children has been a struggle, especially with math. Many conversations started with “I can show you how I would get the answer but it will not resemble ‘new math’ in the least…” I would quickly raise the surrender flag if I had an entire classroom of students in need of my help! Teachers are definitely heroes in my book; don’t you agree?
What we often forget is that many teachers are SUPERHEROES – their impact reaches far beyond the classroom! Though they don’t wear capes or jump over tall buildings, teachers possess super strengths such as excellent hearing, off-the-charts sight and vision and super keen observation skills. Like Mrs. Solberg, my 4th grade teacher. She noticed that a student wore the same clothes every day for an entire week and that he was emitting a less-than-pleasant odor. Some kids teased him, others were oblivious, but not Mrs. Solberg. She reached out to his parents only to discover that the family had been evicted because they were unable to pay rent while the union was on strike at the local refinery. She put them in touch with a nonprofit agency that could provide them temporary assistance. She was a lifeline for that 10-year old boy and his family. She and I still exchange holiday cards some 40 years later.
Middle and high school teachers, in conjunction with school administration personnel, are often the first adults to see at-risk students who are struggling - like Julie who is rail-thin and wears long-sleeve shirts to hide her secret or Jack, a good student who just recently started missing more classes than he makes. The superheroes act, they intervene. Filled with care and compassion, they work with nonprofit agencies, therapists and local officials, if necessary, to provide support, services and solutions, just like Mrs. Solberg.
As you may imagine, COVID-19 has been the kryptonite blocking our superheroes. Virtual, e-learning did not provide opportunities for their keen observation skills to pick-up on students struggling with real life situations. Uncertainty, unemployment and financial distress are impacting households like never before, and without their early intervention to help, I shudder to think of the mental health slide our teachers will encounter when students return to classrooms.
There has never been a more critical time in recent history for us to help our future leaders. We must unite on this shared mission to save a generation at much greater risk for mental health issues exacerbated by COVID-19. Every available dollar makes a difference, and our collective investment in life-saving mental health programs and preventing family homelessness is the bedrock of “community”. BE A SUPERHERO TODAY!
If you have already made a donation, thank you! Are you able to provide another lifeline today? Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions.
We have two very important campaigns geared to help our youngest generation. Our goal is to meet the “match challenge” amounts on both campaigns by June 30th. Because of your superhero status, a gift towards family homelessness programs will be doubled (Ka-POW) and youth mental health gifts will be tripled (WhaMM)!
What we often forget is that many teachers are SUPERHEROES – their impact reaches far beyond the classroom! Though they don’t wear capes or jump over tall buildings, teachers possess super strengths such as excellent hearing, off-the-charts sight and vision and super keen observation skills. Like Mrs. Solberg, my 4th grade teacher. She noticed that a student wore the same clothes every day for an entire week and that he was emitting a less-than-pleasant odor. Some kids teased him, others were oblivious, but not Mrs. Solberg. She reached out to his parents only to discover that the family had been evicted because they were unable to pay rent while the union was on strike at the local refinery. She put them in touch with a nonprofit agency that could provide them temporary assistance. She was a lifeline for that 10-year old boy and his family. She and I still exchange holiday cards some 40 years later.
Middle and high school teachers, in conjunction with school administration personnel, are often the first adults to see at-risk students who are struggling - like Julie who is rail-thin and wears long-sleeve shirts to hide her secret or Jack, a good student who just recently started missing more classes than he makes. The superheroes act, they intervene. Filled with care and compassion, they work with nonprofit agencies, therapists and local officials, if necessary, to provide support, services and solutions, just like Mrs. Solberg.
As you may imagine, COVID-19 has been the kryptonite blocking our superheroes. Virtual, e-learning did not provide opportunities for their keen observation skills to pick-up on students struggling with real life situations. Uncertainty, unemployment and financial distress are impacting households like never before, and without their early intervention to help, I shudder to think of the mental health slide our teachers will encounter when students return to classrooms.
There has never been a more critical time in recent history for us to help our future leaders. We must unite on this shared mission to save a generation at much greater risk for mental health issues exacerbated by COVID-19. Every available dollar makes a difference, and our collective investment in life-saving mental health programs and preventing family homelessness is the bedrock of “community”. BE A SUPERHERO TODAY!
If you have already made a donation, thank you! Are you able to provide another lifeline today? Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions.
We have two very important campaigns geared to help our youngest generation. Our goal is to meet the “match challenge” amounts on both campaigns by June 30th. Because of your superhero status, a gift towards family homelessness programs will be doubled (Ka-POW) and youth mental health gifts will be tripled (WhaMM)!
POWER-UP, ACTIVATE SUPERHERO MODE, DONATE NOW
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