Respect, supplies, coffee: What Arizona teachers want for Teacher Appreciation Week 2023
If you're looking to show appreciation for Arizona's educators, there's a day — and a week — for that.
This year, Teacher Appreciation Day is May 2.
In addition, Teacher Appreciation Week falls May 8-12, according to the National Parent Teacher Association. The National PTA has designated one week in May to honor teachers since 1984, according to its website.
Arizona educators and teacher advocates said there are several ways to show appreciation and support for teachers this year, from donating supplies to speaking with elected officials.
"Teachers are huge fans of school supplies that we run through all the time," including pencils, dry-erase markers and felt-tip pens, said Shannon Corbin, a third grade teacher in Apache Junction. Teachers are happy to receive gift cards, coffee and chocolate, too, she said.
"Teachers also love things that come from the heart," she said, including handmade items or notes from past and present students. "We love our kiddos, and even if all we get is a hug and a kind word, it means the world to us all."
Beth Lewis, director of the public school advocacy group Save Our Schools Arizona and an elementary educator for 12 years, said teachers deserve the overwhelming support of their communities and the state Legislature.
"This Teacher Appreciation Week, our state lawmakers should be praising our teachers, working to pass sustainable teacher pay raises, and finding dollars in the state budget to fully fund their classrooms," Lewis said.
Marisol Garcia, president of the Arizona Education Association and a middle school social studies teacher in the Isaac Elementary School District, also said teachers would like to be appreciated with more pay and funding for schools.
Cedric Collins, a high school teacher in the Casa Grande Union High School District, said a way to show appreciation to educators is to "provide us with livable wages and keep the complimentary water bottles."
Josh Atkins, an elementary school music teacher in the Paradise Valley Unified School District, said he would like to be appreciated with "laws that make my job easier, not more difficult, and legislators that value my students' lives more than money from donors."
"The biggest appreciation any educator could receive is to feel respected in the profession," said Flowing Wells Unified School District special education teacher Anthony Lovio. "And coffee, coffee is always great."
Many businesses typically offer discounts for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, and some of last year's biggest savings came from Staples and Office Depot.
Madeleine Parrish covers K-12 education. Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at @maddieparrish61.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What Arizona teachers want for Teacher Appreciation Week 2023
