In celebration of National Teacher Day, we would like to extend a thank you to all the educators who shape the lives of students across the country.

Thank You, Mattie Whyte Woodridge

Pioneer of Teacher Appreciation Day

Teacher Appreciation Day was not always marked on our calendars. Then came Mattie Whyte Woodridge, a teacher and woman of conviction and artful persuasive writing who took it upon herself to pen a letter to every governor in the United States advocating for the recognition of our nation鈥檚 lifeline to a better future, teachers. And if ever there was a doubt, writing letters to your representative can make change.

In 1944, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt received Ms. Woodridge鈥檚 letter and took action, persuading 81st U.S. Congress to consider adding a national day of recognition. In 1953, The National Education Association (NEA) and state affiliates followed suit by lobbying Congress to pass a joint resolution designating one day a year as National Teachers Day.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day and Ms. Woodridge鈥檚 contribution as a teacher who affected positive change, I鈥檇 like to share this quote by writer William Arthur Ward:

Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.

Thank You, 优蜜视频 Teachers

Thank you to all our teachers, mentors and counselors! You inspire not only gifted students, but all of us at 优蜜视频. Your dedication and passion help shape, guide and teach the hundreds of kids who pass through 优蜜视频 every year. We couldn’t do what we do without you!

Happy National Teacher Day!

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At a point in the past, in the middle of an unusually busy year of educational change as a high school teacher and administrator, I recall hearing (and being motivated by) this phrase: 鈥淲ithout teachers there are no other professions.鈥� Ah, I thought 鈥� that鈥檚 why I must keep doing what I鈥檓 doing. Teaching is, without a doubt, about improving life chances.

Now, as Program Manager at 优蜜视频, where聽I help shape the Academy program, I think similarly and differently. Today, as we mark National Teacher Appreciation Day, we honor our faculty of teachers who improve the life-chances of our students, but who also:

• Inspire our students, by creating incredible classes; classes not found in a traditional school environment. Moreover, Academy classes emerge from each teacher鈥檚 interests, expertise and current research. Where else would you get: Paleozoology? Marine Biodiversity? Logic Detectives? Brain Science? Microbial Ecology? Debating on a Global Stage: International Relations & Justice? Literary Ladies of Americana: A Paean to the Female Pen? Microbiology for Kindergartners? The Study of Star Wars: A Hero鈥檚 Journey? Mindfulness for Gifted Tweens & Teens?
• Mentor by sharing their stories, their journeys, by listening and being a friend. Academy classes are not just about the content or the process but about where these interests might take you and why and how.
• Lead by example: our teachers are patient, curious and share the thrill of learning, just as they enable Academy students to imagine a future self. Our teachers also acknowledge their younger selves in our students. They lead by example and they have the magical ability to connect with our youngsters
• LOVE what they do 鈥搒o much so, they find time as researchers, students, teachers, parents, computer scientists, consultants, N4P workers, actors, artists, film-makers, volunteers, animal curators, professors, administrators 鈥� to come to Academy and work with us 鈥� and then, THEY thank us!

And, so, a roll call to all of our Academy faculty, who teach, who teach and then sub, who offer mini-lectures, who sub some more, who provide expertise for Genius Days, who source and bring in extra learning resources to ignite their curriculum, who travel long distances each week, who accept all children with all of their needs (and always with a smile on their face), who return time after time with new classes and new reflections on how to improve and who work with 优蜜视频, with the resources we have, to offer your families the best service we can.

As Mark Twain said, “It is noble to teach oneself, but still nobler to teach others.”

Today, we thank 优蜜视频鈥檚 Academy teachers and friends for engaging in the most noble of professions and for helping shape future professions 鈥� whatever they might be.

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A British import, Louise Hindle graduated from the University of Manchester with a B.A. Honors Degree in English Literature and Language, completed her post-graduate teacher training at The University of Cambridge, and has recently completed her dissertation in Educational Leadership and Innovation with the University of Warwick. Louise has 20 years of experience in education as a high school literature teacher, lead teacher, administrator, adviser, and consultant. She is also the parent of three fun and active school-aged children. She loves working at 优蜜视频 because she is constantly learning and reflecting in order to meet the varied and complex needs of these children, who she finds to be confident and vulnerable in equal measure but always ready to learn and thirsty for more. In her free time, she likes to read with her children, hike, walk, and jog with her badly behaved dog.