Teacher Appreciation Week recognizes hard work

When it comes to praise, teachers sometimes get overlooked, but with Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs through Friday, instructors throughout the Cape Girardeau School District are getting a lift from the community.

Blake Tiemann, executive pastor at Cape First, said a teacher from the Alternative Education Center mentioned to the pastoral staff that the school typically gets overlooked. But not this year.

Cape First this week is providing doughnuts and juice, lunch, snacks and Chick-fil-A coupons to the Alternative Education Center's 18 teachers, something principal Scott McMullen is grateful for. In the past, McMullen said, he's provided staff recognition on his own, but it's nice to have assistance, particularly as the year winds down and things get hectic.

"I think it was just extremely kind on their part to think about our school, our students and our teachers, as well," McMullen said. "It was a very great gesture on their part."

From a parent standpoint, McMullen said, teachers don't always get that acknowledgment. "Many of our students come from very humble beginnings, so it's very difficult for their parents to take time from work, or have transportation to be able to do those things for our staff," he said.

Tiemann said the church has four locations, one of which is House of Hope in south Cape Girardeau, where he also is pastor. McMullen said the church is familiar with many of the students and some of the teachers who help out there.

Shea Johnson, the ninth- through 12th-grade business education teacher, social worker Kelly Kasten, sixth- through eighth-grade language arts teacher Mary Richards and sixth- through eighth-grade social studies teacher Ellen McAuley appreciated Wednesday's lunch from BG's Deli.

"It's very nice to be honored and to be thought of and appreciated by the students and community," McAuley said.

"We work hard all year long, and this week is kind of all about us. The rest of the year it's about the children, and that is great, but it's nice to feel that you're doing a good job," Richards said.

Tiemann said the church was just happy to fulfill a need.

"I hope people look around because there's a lot of different needs," he said. "A lot of people work hard in education that go underappreciated that deserve some appreciation."

District communications director Dana Saverino said campuses have school partners who help with various projects and events, but the Alternative Center doesn't have a designated partner.

Many people, organizations and churches have given donations and gifts for other schools this week. "We've had a whole slew of people assisting, making sure our teachers feel appreciated," Saverino said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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