Thank our educators this week

On behalf of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, I send special thanks to our wonderful Cape Girardeau teachers, staff and administrators as we celebrate American Education Week throughout our nation. We are fortunate to have a variety of education choices and opportunities -- from preschool to higher learning -- and highly qualified teachers, dedicated administrators and loyal staff members who are willing daily to go the extra mile.

There is probably not one person who reads this letter who cannot remember a kind word, a caring act, a smile or a word of praise received in school. It may have seemed insignificant, but the very fact that we can remember these things years later speaks volumes about their importance. It is for all of the little things that we thank our educators this week.

Education is vitally important, because the youths of today will become the leaders of tomorrow. American Education Week is our time to say thanks to all of them and to express our gratitude for what they do for our present and our future.

I hope you will join in sending thanks to our Cape Girardeau educators this week. Make an effort to personally thank all of the wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to making the lives of our children just a little bit better. Show them that Cape Girardeau appreciates and thanks each of them.

CAROL STRATTMAN, Chairman, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee