Let Us Give Thanks

Well, another year has since come and gone and Thanksgiving is next week. Yes, that's right,

IT'S NEXT WEEK!

Another approaching event next week is the birthday of your's truly, but as with every year when my birthday arrives, I tend not to want the attention that usually accompanies a birthday celebration. Instead, I try to focus my thoughts on others and the contributions they have made either to the Journal, to others or to me.

This past May I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the North Carolina Teacher of the Year awards program, sponsored by the North Carolina Automobile Dealer's Association. In attendance were several members of the State Board of Education, the Department of Public Instruction and the regional Teacher of the Year finalists from around our state. As many years have passed since my K-12 years, I had forgotten what being in the presence of so many educators was like. As the excitement grew with each finalist's credentials and classroom photos splashed across a big screen for all to see, I recognized that for the winner of the NC Teacher of the Year, as well as the regional finalists, this was an award of high honor and recognition. For the winner of this annual award, Diana Beasley, this was indeed a formal recognition of her hard work, commitment and dedication to her profession and to the field of education. What a great opportunity it was for me to be present and also to give her a big "Thank You."

As many of us know, teaching as a profession is often overlooked and hence goes unrecognized for the services educators provide to our children. Let us not take for granted the commitment a teacher or someone else within the educational community has made to inspiring, informing and educating our young ones. This Thanksgiving, make it a point to recognize and give thanks to a teacher or other educator in your own community.

And P.S...

IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.