Thank you to teachers

Dear teachers,

Thank you for being a teacher to the students in our community. One great teacher can make all the difference in the life of a child. Teachers may not always see the influence of their work on the kids and families, but good teaching is a powerful thing. Teachers give their students the power of knowledge they take with them for a lifetime. They devote their lives to giving the children in our community the tools to succeed and inspire them to do it.

A great teacher can make a student's heart shine and blossom like a flower because of the love, guidance and encouragement given by a teacher. There is a Japanese proverb that says, "Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher." When a student graduates from high school, they will have spent about 10,000 hours at school being instructed by more than 30 teachers. This is why almost everyone has a story about a teacher that has touched his or her life.

The United Way of Southeast Missouri has had the opportunity to work closely with teachers, and we have seen firsthand the inspiring effect of teachers shaping the lives of our children. We appreciate the contribution that our teachers make every day to brighten the children's lives in our community and thank you for your countless hours, sweat and tears, and relentless commitment to our children. Thank you for inspiring the next generation and all your efforts to brighten our community's future.

With deep appreciation,

JO PEUKERT, coordinator, LIFE Initiative, Cape Girardeau