In 1953, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress that there needed to be a specific day to recognize teachers. Mattye Whytte Wooldridge communicated with education leaders to form a day to honor teachers. She then began writing letters to Eleanor Roosevelt. Roosevelt decided the cause was worthy of her attention and took it to Congress. Even with Eleanor Roosevelt taking the case to Congress and getting their help and support, it would take another 27 years to become an official national day. It was in 1980 when the National Education Association (NEA) joined with the Kansas and Indiana State Boards of Education and began to lobby Congress to have the day nationally recognized.

  National Teacher Day was celebrated on March 7th until 1984, when it was moved to May. Behind the move was the National Parent Teacher Association, which expanded the celebration by naming the entire first week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week. The NEA followed suit the next year and held National Teacher Appreciation Day on the Tuesday of that week.

    Whether you send a small gift or a kind word, let the teachers in your life know that they’re appreciated. If you’re looking for ways to showcase your appreciation, follow the link below for some fun ideas! https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/7-creative-ways-to-thank-fellow-teachers/

Michele Hartje joins WCSU as of 4/27/26 as Director of Student Services. Michele comes to us with experience as a special education teacher in CT and VT, case manager, educational evaluator, special education coach, Section 504 coordinator, and former Assistant Director of Student Services. Prior to returning, Michele worked at BRSU as a teacher/case manager and at the Agency of Education as a School Climate Coordinator where she supported Behavioral Threat Assessment, Suicide Postvention, VTmtss Framework, and related state-wide initiatives. Michele is an educational researcher, working towards completing her last semester of a Social Emotional Academic Learning doctoral program with Sacred Heart University. Michele started her professional career in business technology having held leadership positions in corporate and software companies. Michele loves nature, everything spiritual, and enjoys hanging out with her three adult children when they come to visit. Michele lives in Dorset, VT with her three puppies--Barron, Snowball, and Orison.