Teacher Appreciation Week

By: Reese Butler and Aiden Lynch

National Teacher Appreciation Week ran from Monday, May 4^th, to Friday, May 8^th this year. But for Alison Johnson, Executive Director of the East Wake Academy Eagle Foundation, preparation for this celebratory week began months in advance. Around February, she laid out the theme for Teacher Appreciation Week and set specific engagement goals. “What we really want to do is make sure teachers and staff feel valued, while also building community at EWA.” February also marks the start of the spring appeal process for Alison Johnson and the Eagle Foundation.

As a charter school, East Wake Academy only receives 70% of the funding that traditional public schools receive. “We have to raise money, which is why we must have the foundation. Nonprofits [like the Eagle Foundation] typically do appeals to ask for fundraising either two or three times a year. Since we’re building the foundation from the ground up, I’m asking three times a year.” The typical appeal looks like reaching out to sponsors, specifically focusing on sponsorships from businesses that are supportive of education. But this year, Johnson is opening up sponsorship opportunities to the community. “I send an ask to our community sponsors by sending them an email, and then once that is done, I ask parents and the wider community. They can give at whatever level is comfortable and meaningful for them.”

As the week neared, we caught up with parent Eagle Foundation volunteers as they prepared Snackle Boxes to hear why they chose to get involved with the organization. Amanda Guy shared, “I used to teach, and teacher appreciation was always something I enjoyed, so it’s something I’ve clung to as a parent. Making sure my children’s teachers know I understand how hard their job is and that I appreciate everything they do is so important to me.” Ciarra Letchworth added, “They [the teachers] do so much great work, and I’ve seen so much growth in my own child.” The Snackle Boxes were distributed as Monday’s treat, starting the week off on a sweet note.  

Alison Johnson and Yulia Nettles share a smile during BBQ Bliss day.

On Thursday, we stopped in on “BBQ Bliss” day and spoke with volunteer Gail Moeller, who told us a bit about her experience having her grandchildren attend East Wake Academy. “My grandchildren are in the third grade, and they have the most amazing teachers. It’s like they’ve become our family.” Gratitude was definitely a major theme of the week. Between appreciating teachers and staff, along with the parent volunteers, community sponsors, and students who participated in the week, Johnson had a lot of gratitude. “I couldn’t have done this week without the volunteers- and I’m super excited to work with this core group of six or seven volunteers in the future.”

Parent volunteers assist in serving the staff Prime Barbecue for lunch.

After the week came to a close with a beach-themed Friday, we sat down with Mentor Coordinator Cheryl Lanier to hear a bit about the staff experience with Teacher Appreciation Week. For Mrs. Lanier, the week was more than just a celebration- it was a reminder of the “value” of a teacher. “Students did some really awesome and thoughtful things [this week] that I didn’t expect- especially in the Senior Academy. You really have to make an impression on a high school student to impress them enough to celebrate you in that way.” Mrs. Lanier has especially enjoyed watching the students whom she and other teachers have impacted grow. “It’s like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates- look at all my chocolates.”

It was these conversations with Alison Johnson, parent volunteers, and Cheryl Lanier that showed us the deeper meaning of Teacher Appreciation Week. There is no doubt that the teachers and staff at East Wake Academy are deserving of all the recognition that was shown to them, not just over the course of the week, but every single day. Watching how parents, students, and community members worked in tandem with the Eagle Foundation to make the week happen emphasized to us what makes East Wake Academy special- the teachers!

Thank you to all the teachers and staff who make East Wake Academy great.

-The East Wake Academy Yearbook Staff.