In praise of teachers

High school graduations were conducted last week, and while much of the spotlight fell upon the students, here’s a plug for the teachers who’ve guided them.

In reality, teachers don’t have the worst life in the world. Compared to many jobs in the private sector, the pay is pretty good and the benefits are excellent.

Who wouldn’t want a month off every summer, with pay?

So no, they’re not underpaid, but they’re often underloved.

Because they deal with children on a daily basis, teachers are the guardians of the future, and for that reason they’re to be revered, respected and, above all, thanked.

At the Thousand Oaks/Westlake Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Community Awards recently, two teachers received Educator of the Year recognition: Deborah Frank from Agoura High and Marsha Jones from the Conejo Valley alternative high school.

Agoura’s Deborah Frank demonstrates a different form of altruism. Eight years ago, she left her job as a chief financial officer for a record and film company to become a teacher.

"She truly is a gifted innovator and motivator for her students . . . she makes them feel good about learning," says Pat Croner, the head of the chamber’s Teacher of the Month program for the past eight years. Because of her experience, Croner knows a good teacher when she sees one.

Marsha Jones, whose job it is to help academically challenged teenagers find their way, speaks from the heart when she says, "I did not like high school when I was you and I can relate to some students. I tell them to achieve and to not give up and to always look at the talents they have."

Thanks to Marsha Jones, hundreds of young people from our community have grown up to become mature, responsible adults.

Teaching is "a job you learn from your pupils while your pupils learn from you," writes Jennifer Simpson, a 12-year-old student from Los Cerritos Middle School, whose poem about teaching was read aloud during the ceremony.

Mostly, teaching is about giving. To the guardians of the future, now’s the perfect opportunity to say thanks.

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