Kansas teachers have been in the spotlight this week as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week from May 8-12. 

Gov. Laura Kelly also has proclaimed Friday, May 12, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in Kansas. 

National Teacher Day and National Teacher Appreciation Week stem from an idea First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had after receiving a letter from Mattie Whyte Woodridge.  

In the 1940s, Woodridge, an Arkansas teacher, decided that educators should be recognized for the contributions they make to society. Woodridge wrote letters to every governor in the United States. She corresponded to politicians and other leaders in education, stressing the need for a national day to honor teachers. Eventually, one of the many letters she wrote landed on the desk of Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Eleanor Roosevelt pleaded to Congress that there needed to be a day when teachers were recognized. Although there was support for designating a National Teacher Day, the first National Teacher Day didn’t happen officially until March 7, 1980. Four years later, the National PTA decided to honor teachers with an entire week instead of one day. Since 1984, the weeklong celebration of educators has occurred during the first full week of May every year.  

School districts throughout the sunflower state celebrated their teachers with notes and cards of appreciation, special shoutouts on social media and even simple “thank yous” in person. 

You can still celebrate educators today by thanking them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites using the hashtag #ThankATeacher and #TAW23. 

Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson and members of the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team shared special messages to their favorite teachers on the KSDE Livemedia YouTube channel. You can find them here. 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) joins organizations across the state in recognizing more than 4,500 licensed child care providers and 23,000 individuals in the state and the work they do each day to support a safe, nurturing place for the enrichment and development of Kansas children. 

Child Care Provider Appreciation Day occurs on the Friday before Mother’s Day each year. Child Care Aware of America brings together communities across the United States to observe Child Care Provider Appreciation Day as a time to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents. Learn more about the Child Care Provider Appreciation Day at ProviderAppreciation.org. 

Join the celebration and thank child care providers on social media by using #ThankYouChildCare. 

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and its staff members want to thank all Kansas educators and child care providers for their hard work, long hours and dedication to the success of each Kansas student.