Dear Teachers,
I want to take a moment--perhaps a little late, but no less sincere--to express my deep appreciation for each of you.
This week, our school and district teams have taken time to recognize Teacher Appreciation Week. I hesitated to send a formal letter earlier, fearing it might feel like “just another message.” But in reflection, I realize silence isn’t the answer either--because the work you do every single day deserves acknowledgment.
You are the ones who turn a child’s bad day into a better one. You celebrate their milestones, notice when they need clothes or a meal, and often step in with compassion and care that goes far beyond your job description. You stay late to tutor, come in early to prepare, and spend weekends planning lessons, creating projects, and thinking about how to reach “that one student” who needs just a little more.
I know this because I was a teacher too—for 10 years. I remember baking cupcakes late at night, staying after school to support students, and pouring my heart into every lesson. I also know the toll this work can take—the emotional weight, the mental exhaustion, and the quiet moments of doubt that come with the territory.
But I also know what this work makes possible.
I am the daughter of immigrants—my mother a housewife and my father a steelworker. We didn’t have much. But we had access to education, and that changed everything. Because of it, I’ve traveled the world, built a life I’m proud of, and now serve in a role I never imagined possible as a first-generation American. That’s what you do. You make that kind of impact.
We don’t have a district-wide PTA to organize grand celebrations, and we’re bound by the limitations of public funding—but please know that I see you. I respect you. And I believe in you.
Thank you for believing in our students.
Thank you for believing in the promise of education.
And most of all, thank you for showing up--day after day--with open hearts, steady hands, and the unwavering belief that every child matters.
Your work is felt.
Your care is seen.
And your impact will be remembered--by the students whose lives you’ve changed in ways both big and small.
Thank you for being that heart--for our students, our schools, and our future.
With deepest appreciation,
Nadia A. Nashir, NBCT
Superintendent of Schools
Lackawanna City School District
"I made a promise to myself that I would never forget what it was like to be a student, a teacher, and a principal--Because remembering keeps me grounded, keeps me grateful, and reminds me of the incredible heart it takes to do this work well."
