Education Minister Mildred Dover officially proclaimed February 11 to 17 as Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week in Prince Edward Island. The purpose of the week is to recognize the important contribution that teachers and school staff make to the lives of children and their education.

Minister Dover encouraged Islanders to participate in the many recognition activities taking place in schools this week. “A teacher is a major figure in a child’s life. On many days, students spend more time with teachers than parents. Our Prince Edward Island teachers are caring, dedicated and professional,” she said. “This week I encourage all Islanders to take the time to thank teachers and support staff for a job well done.”

The minister also acknowledged the tremendous contributions of other school staff such as school bus drivers, custodians, educational assistants, youth service workers, administrative and support staff. “Although they often work behind-the-scenes, they are key members of the team that takes responsibility every school day to ensure that our students have safe and caring places to learn,” she said.

This is the 20th anniversary of national Teacher and School Staff Appreciation Week. It is sponsored by the Canadian Home and School Federation.

For more information on Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week activities, call your school or visit your school’s website.

BACKGROUNDER

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

February 9, 2007

• During Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, Islanders salute the efforts of approximately:

- 1,500 school teachers

- 280 school bus drivers

- 140 administrative and support staff

- 260 full-time equivalent educational assistants and youth service workers

- 200 custodial and maintenance staff

• There are many different kinds of teachers such as home room, resource, music, phys ed, teacher-librarians, specialist teachers and more.

• You’ll find teachers and staff doing yard duty at lunch time, holding band practices before and after school, coaching sports teams on weekends, and working with school councils, yearbook committees and wellness initiatives.

• Teachers are lifelong learners. They continue to learn new things like using technology in the classroom, enhancing student literacy and improving their schools through the school development planning process.

• Teachers work in many areas outside the school; for example, they work as consultants with school boards and the Department of Education, technology specialists, special education specialists, counsellors and university professors.

• Each school day, our dedicated school bus drivers take responsibility for approximately 20,000 Island children who ride the school bus.