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Teacher Appreciation Week: A Look Back at 18 Incredible (and Inspiring) Ways Students & Schools Celebrated Their Teachers Over the Past Year

Credit: Instagram.com/harvardeducation

Classrooms nationwide on Tuesday will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day. While teachers do important 鈥 and often thankless 鈥 work every day, this day is set aside to honor the nation鈥檚 estimated 3.6 million teachers for their endless contributions to schools and communities around the country. In ways both profound and silly, students and their communities have been sharing the love for their teachers. From students buying their teacher a new puppy to parents doling out personalized bottles of wine, here’s a roundup of 18 of our favorite moments of the past year.

1. Whittling down the bucket list: Texas students help sick teacher raise money to see the redwoods 鈥 and splash in the Pacific 鈥 before it鈥檚 too late.

Michelle Wistrand, a middle school English teacher, was dying of terminal cancer. But she had a bucket list, including a desire to see the Redwood Forest and swim in the Pacific Ocean. Eager to help a teacher they loved, her Texas students raised more than $10,000 on GoFundMe for her trip. Wistrand was able to visit several bucket list destinations before she died .

“I just feel loved and humbled by it and so extremely grateful I have these people in my life,” Wistrand said. (Read more at )

2. 鈥We are going to carry you鈥: Ohio students promise to save their wheelchair-bound teacher in the event of a school shooting.

The deadly Valentine鈥檚 Day massacre in Parkland, Florida, sparked difficult conversations among teachers and students around the country. What would they do if a shooter came into their classrooms? But for Marissa Schimmoeller, a high school English teacher in Ohio, there was an added level of anxiety: She uses a wheelchair. When her students asked what they should do if a shooting breaks out at school, Schimmoeller explained that their safety is her main concern; if they have a chance to escape, they should take it, she said 鈥 even if she doesn鈥檛 make it.

What happened next brought her to tears. She described it on Facebook: Slowly, quietly, as the words I had said sunk in, another student raised their hand. She said, 鈥楳rs. Schimmoeller, we already talked about it. If anything happens, we are going to carry you.鈥欌 (Read more at )

https://www.facebook.com/marissa.terri.b/posts/10215914934766042

3. 鈥榃e knew she loved us鈥: Fifty years later, Nashville students throw a party for their favorite teacher.

There are some teachers you never forget, no matter how long you鈥檝e been out of school. Marie Wiggins, 96, of Nashville, is one. The students she taught in the 1960s remembered that Wiggins had been there for them in difficult times, had helped them put on plays, respected them, and loved them 鈥 without putting up with their nonsense. Recently reconnected on Facebook, they organized a reunion to honor her.

“She was so precious,鈥 one student remembered. 鈥淲e had her respect, and we knew she loved us. She was like our little mother.鈥

“My sixth-grade year in school, President Kennedy was assassinated,鈥 another said. 鈥淸Mrs. Wiggins] was there with us, I remember that we talked, I remember I felt safe and I felt calm.鈥 (Read more at )

4. In her first major post鈥揥hite House speech, Michelle Obama credits educators with having 鈥榓 far bigger impact on our kids鈥 lives than any president.鈥

If you ask Michelle Obama, teachers basically run the world.

In her first major post鈥揥hite House speech in February, the former first lady gave a reminder that real change doesn鈥檛 happen 鈥渇rom the top down in Washington.鈥

https://www.instagram.com/p/BetOlBmgJno/?taken-by=michelleobama

鈥淚t happens on the ground, in classrooms, in those face-to-face and heart-to-heart interactions between our kids and caring educators and counselors,鈥 she told the audience at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., assembled for the School Counselor of the Year ceremony. 鈥淭he men and women on this stage 鈥 have a far bigger impact on our kids鈥 lives than any president or first lady.鈥 (Read more at )

Start watching at 05:10 to hear Obama鈥檚 thoughts on teachers鈥 meaningful contributions to students鈥 lives:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNr0RXYrqhk&t=313s

5. Two astronauts are bringing the 鈥榣ost鈥 lessons of fallen teacher and Challenger astronaut Christa McAuliffe to life.

Christa McAuliffe, tapped to become the first teacher in space, died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986. Her lesson plans 鈥 which would have been filmed in space for students on Earth 鈥 faded into oblivion. But in January, the Challenger Center, an educational nonprofit created after the disaster, announced that astronauts Joe Acaba and Ricky Arnold, both former educators, would use McAuliffe鈥檚 writings and notes to bring four of her six 鈥渓ost lessons鈥 to life.

The pair planned to record the lessons on the International Space Station over several months, with video postings on the Challenger Center website slated for spring. McAuliffe鈥檚 lesson plans delve into topics such as liquids and Newton鈥檚 laws of motion.

鈥淲e look forward to helping inspire the next generation of explorers and educators,鈥 Acaba said during the January announcement. (Read about McAuliffe鈥檚 鈥渓ost lessons鈥 )

6. Maybe their son didn鈥檛 drive his teachers to drink, but these Ohio parents knew he wasn鈥檛 the best-behaved. So they gave his teachers the perfect gift: personalized bottles of wine.

For Christmas last year, the parents of Ohio eighth-grader Jake Sommers wanted to give his teachers something more than a stereotypical coffee mug. Since Jake has been a bit of a 鈥渟chool clown鈥 since kindergarten 鈥 as his mother Mary Sommers affectionately told BuzzFeed News 鈥 alcohol seemed appropriate.

So 10 of Jake鈥檚 teachers received a bottle of chardonnay with his face smack-dab on the label. The corresponding message read: 鈥淥ur child might be the reason you drink so enjoy this bottle on us.鈥

Jake鈥檚 mom told BuzzFeed News that 鈥渘one of the teachers were shocked鈥 by the gift. (Read more at )

7. Chance the Rapper has given millions to Chicago schools. Now he鈥檚 heading a teachers awards show in June.

Chicago teachers will be getting the all-star treatment this June, with rap icon and Chicago native Chance the Rapper spearheading a new awards ceremony to recognize 鈥渢eachers, parents, principals, and students that convey leadership鈥 in area schools.

The annual 鈥淭wilight Awards鈥 show, first announced in September, will feature special guest performances. CBS late-night personality James Corden will host.

Chance is a known education advocate. His nonprofit, SocialWorks, allotted $100,000 grants to 20 Chicago public schools last year. (Read more at )

Watch here, with mention of the Twilight Awards at 17:30:

8. Indiana teacher receives the gift of color 鈥 with a Harry Potter鈥搕hemed twist.

When Beau Scott鈥檚 Indiana students made him dress like he was getting ready for a Quidditch match out of the Harry Potter books, he had no idea they had something truly magical in store. Scott鈥檚 students knew he was colorblind, so they pitched in $5 to $10 each for a $300 pair of special glasses to allow him to see colors.

When Scott put on the fancy 鈥淨uidditch goggles鈥 his students gave him, he saw colors for the first time 鈥 an experience he described as 鈥渁wesome.鈥 (Read more at )

9. This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown gives thanks to his high school advisor 鈥 鈥榯he first adult who spoke to me about life鈥 鈥 at TIME 100 gala.

Sterling K. Brown has made a name for himself, starring in the NBC drama This Is Us and nabbing in 2017. But at the TIME 100 gala in April, Brown took a moment to honor his high school adviser and middle school algebra teacher.

Barbara Jenkins Bull taught him the ins and outs of the stock market. She鈥檇 encouraged him to explore other countries. She cheered him on at every football and basketball game.

鈥淪he influenced the trajectory of my life in ways she and I could never have imagined,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 felt like I could run through a brick wall, and I wanted to do it for her.鈥 (Read more at )

Watch the video starting here:

10. Students wanted to honor a Harvard educator who loves Sesame Street. So they transformed him into a muppet.

A few students in Harvard鈥檚 Graduate School of Education wanted to thank professor Joe Blatt last June for bolstering the school鈥檚 relationship with Sesame Workshop, a Sesame Street鈥揵ased nonprofit that supports children鈥檚 educational development.

Nothing seemed more fitting than a look-alike muppet. So they reached out to Sesame Workshop CEO Jeffrey Dunn and commissioned the professorial miniature 鈥 complete with a balding head, fluffy white mustache, rimmed glasses, and red tie.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV7nXPWDRPd/?utm_source=ig_embed

鈥淛oe was such an inspiration to us this year; he has done so much to bring the Sesame relationship back to Harvard,鈥 one student presenter said at the muppet鈥檚 unveiling. Another added jokingly, 鈥淲hen [the Sesame Workshop team] got the pictures, they said, 鈥楬e already looks like a muppet.鈥欌 (Read more at )

Watch the unveiling and Blatt鈥檚 reaction here:

https://www.facebook.com/HarvardEducation/videos/10154982499146387/

 

11. Puppy love: Alabama teacher鈥檚 class buys him a dog after he loses his.

Troy Rogers, a high school teacher in Athens, Alabama, told his students in December that his dog of 11 years had run away, probably to die. After hearing the news, his senior class pooled their money and surprised him with a new puppy because they knew how much their teacher missed his old dog. Rogers named the puppy Clementine.

鈥淚 love these kids. There are no words,鈥 Rogers wrote in a Facebook post. 鈥淚 will consequently be adding the estimated cost of the puppy to the senior fund, out of my pocket.鈥 (Read more at )

https://www.facebook.com/troyrogers.1969/posts/10213938418270840

12. 鈥楾his is everything鈥: Utah teacher breaks down when a former student shows up at her door after four decades.

Utah teacher Margaret Foote had an unanticipated visitor last May: a former student from four decades prior, bearing a bouquet of red roses and a tiered, personalized cake.

In 1978, Foote was a pillar of support for Cindy Davis, a Salt Lake City third-grader struggling with her mother鈥檚 remarriage, a recent move, and a lack of friends. Davis is now an educator herself.

鈥淎ll throughout my career I have remembered you and thought about what a great teacher you were to me,鈥 Davis told Foote. 鈥淚鈥檝e tried to pay it forward.鈥

Foote was moved to tears. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what this means to me, as a teacher,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his is everything.鈥 (Read more at )

Watch their reunion here:

13. Rhode Island teacher鈥檚 dream comes true when high schoolers create prosthetic arm for her son.

All Rhode Island middle school math teacher Nicole Mancini wanted was for her 9-year-old adopted son, Olly 鈥 born without a lower left arm 鈥 to have a semblance of normalcy and independence. Last December, a group of Scituate High School students gave him just that, manufacturing a plastic prosthetic arm with a 3-D printer.

The arm is green and purple, Olly鈥檚 favorite colors. In a Providence Journal video, Olly, sporting a huge grin, curled his new fingers a few times and leaned over to give his mom a hug.

鈥淭his is the greatest gift anyone could have given me,鈥 Mancini told the Journal. 鈥淥lly is blessed to have these kids in his corner.鈥 (Read more at )

See the gallery , and watch the video of Olly trying on his new arm:

14. New Mexico students surprise their teacher with a Christmas gift for his sick son.

Widowed math teacher Nathan Neidigk, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, didn鈥檛 think he鈥檇 be able to afford Christmas presents for his son, who is struggling with leukemia and has required frequent hospital visits. His students surprised him, chipping in for a Nintendo Switch gaming console. The high schoolers also set up a GoFundMe page to help with other health care costs. (Read more at )

15. Avengers鈥 Chris Hemsworth asks Twitter to support 鈥榯he real superheroes鈥 鈥 teachers like his mom.

Avengers franchise star Chris Hemsworth, a.k.a. Thor, whose mom was a teacher, took to Twitter on April 30 to promote a partnership between Marvel Studios鈥 Avengers: Infinity War and Ziploc, which has pledged $100,000 in funding for classroom projects.

Those who purchase Ziploc鈥檚 superhero-themed bags and containers that celebrate the film鈥檚 release will help support the donation, part of Ziploc鈥檚 #MoreThanATeacher initiative.

鈥淎s the son of a teacher, I know that educators like my mom are the real superheroes,鈥 said Hemsworth. 鈥淢y mom taught me everything I know, and I continue to learn from her every single day.鈥 (Read more about the initiative at

16. Fairbanks, Alaska, Girl Scouts give their highest honor to a retired 鈥 and beloved 鈥 Fairbanks teacher and Girl Scout leader.聽

Claudia Pierson, a retired teacher who has worked with Girl Scouts in Fairbanks for decades, recently received the highest award the organization bestows on a volunteer, the Thanks Badge II, for dedicated service to the organization. A self-described 鈥渧olunteer addict,鈥 Pierson led her daughter鈥檚 Girl Scout troop in the 1980s and now leads her granddaughter鈥檚. She also volunteers at a youth homeless shelter and at her granddaughter鈥檚 school, organizes a Christmas charity event, and hands out food boxes at her church. (Read more at the )


 

Despite her credentials, [Pierson] is a humble volunteer, willing to do what needs to be done, whether it is moving a Coke machine, fixing a bulletin board, selling tickets for charity or cleaning up after a charity event.
鈥攖丑别 Daily News-Miner


17. A sweet gesture: Huntsville, Alabama, student gives her ice cream money to teacher to help pay for father-in-law鈥檚 funeral.

Price Lawrence was teaching his sixth-grade students one morning when they noticed something was off. He explained that he was worried about his wife because her father had recently died. When class ended, one student slipped a piece of paper and some coins in Lawrence鈥檚 hand. The note said 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry.鈥 The coins were the student鈥檚 ice cream money for that day.

鈥淭his is for your wife. I know it was real expensive when my daddy died and I don鈥檛 really want ice cream today anyways,鈥 the student said. Price shared the touching story on Facebook, where it was shared more than 250,000 times. (Read more at )

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10106184265239955&set=a.935421680565.2560517.27421147&type=3

18. Students throw surprise party for Iowa teacher who鈥檚 been in the same district for 50 years.

David Houseman has been teaching in southern Iowa鈥檚 Moulton-Udell School District for 50 years, and he still hasn鈥檛 updated his chalkboard to a SmartBoard. His former students, some of them teachers themselves now, recently reunited for a party to celebrate his half-century in the classroom. Houseman, who has no plans to retire, said his students keep him coming back.

鈥淚 think the kids are actually better, a lot of people think kids are worse,鈥 Houseman said. 鈥淢aybe I鈥檓 just more liberal or more tolerant. … At M-U, and Moulton, I think the kids … and the community has an appreciation for education. And that鈥檚 one reason why I like this school district.鈥 (Read more at the )

https://www.facebook.com/leah.a.scott.5/posts/10209475520165219

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