Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Students, families, and communities across Wisconsin showed their appreciation for teachers last week during Teacher Appreciation Week.
State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly and Gov. Tony Evers kicked off the week by proclaiming May 2-6, 2022 as Teacher Appreciation Week in Wisconsin (see Dr. Underly’s proclamation on the DPI’s website, and Gov. Evers’ proclamation on his website) and sending video messages of gratitude to Wisconsin’s educators.
“Our state is a stronger place because our teachers teach our students to be curious and active participants in their learning,” Dr. Underly said in her video message. “Our future is bright because of the way our teachers inspire learning in their students.”
“Some of the most meaningful moments in my life have happened in the classroom,” Gov. Evers said in his video message. “From meeting my wife, Kathy, in Ms. Potter’s kindergarten class, to my first job teaching science in Baraboo, I know just how challenging our teachers’ jobs are, and just how much they do for our communities and state every day.”
On Tuesday, Dr. Underly shared an open letter to Wisconsin teachers, in which she wrote about the importance of teachers, and thanked them for going above and beyond for students. Read Dr. Underly’s message on the DPI’s website.
On Wednesday, Dr. Underly visited Carl Traeger Elementary School in Oshkosh, where she surprised school counselor Kaelee Heideman during a school assembly and named her one of the 2023 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year.
The following day, on Thursday, Dr. Underly visited Shorewood Intermediate School, surprising geography teacher Sarah Kopplin in her classroom and delivering the news that she is a 2023 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year. Read more about the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Program on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's website.
Thank you, teachers, for all that you do and continue to do every day.