It is hard to believe the 2025-2026 school year has come to an end. As I prepare to watch my son graduate kindergarten, I have many thoughts.
I always thought kindergarten graduations were a little silly, but seeing how excited and proud my son is to graduate has completely changed my perspective. I am so incredibly grateful for the teaching team he has had this year. As a mom of a medically complex child, I often thank his medical care team for everything they do to support and care for him. But there’s another group of people who deserve just as much gratitude: the teachers, aides, and school staff who have loved, encouraged, and cared for my son every single day.
I would think sending any child to school for the first time is a scary thing. Knowing how much care and assistance my son needs, placing his care in the hands of people that start out as strangers is enough to give this mom a panic attack. During the school year, most of my son’s waking hours are spent with his teaching team. I say team because it truly takes a team for my son. I walk through the halls and everyone knows him and loves him, so I want to say thank you:
Thank you for never making me feel like caring for my son is a burden. I know how much work it takes and you take every moment, even the bad ones in stride.
Thank you for working to understand him. It’s like he speaks his own language and it takes some time to learn it and you took that time.
Thank you for being patient with him. Working with a child with special needs is never easy.
Thank you for never comparing him to others. I have always heard horror stories about IEP meetings. You truly have taken to heart the meaning of INDIVIDUALIZED education plan.
Thank you for meeting him where he is, even if that means lying on the floor with him.
Thank you for working together as a team. It truly takes a village with him and the teamwork I have experienced is nothing short of amazing.
Thank you for keeping me in the loop. I never felt like I didn’t know what was happening with his education. If I ever started to feel that way, I didn’t hesitate to ask for a meeting.
Thank you for dealing with his equipment. The equipment juggle is tough. Thank you for understanding and caring for the large pieces of equipment.
Thank you for putting up with his (sometimes annoying) schedule. Between the routine therapies, doctors appointments, and the occasional therapy intensive, his schedule got a little crazy, but you never skipped a beat and were always flexible with us.
Thank you for not getting annoyed with me. Even if you did, you never showed it, so I will continue to think it didn’t happen.
Thank you for working so hard to always make sure he was included. Even if that meant working together to get him up the inflatable slide so he could play like everyone else or creating an accessible easter egg hunt so he could participate.
Thank you for not giving up on him. You saw through his diagnosis and saw the child that loves to be read to. The child that is actually pretty smart even though he has a hard time verbalizing it.
Thank you for caring for him. It truly is scary to send him to be with someone else all day. I feel so comfortable knowing he is so well cared for and loved.
In general, I think it is so understated how much influence a teacher has on a child’s life. Kids won’t forget the teacher that went the extra mile for them. Thank you to all the teachers who do just a little extra; those who spend their own money to buy supplies, because they aren’t always provided; those who take the problems of their students home with them; those who work far beyond the school day hours; and those who leave their own kids to care for others people’s kids.
I know there are days that are hard – I can’t even imagine. I have so much respect and gratitude for all of you. I know some days are thankless, but please always remember because of your passion and dedication, a child’s life could be changed. I see you and I appreciate you.
Cheers to teachers, the unsung heroes of childhood and beyond!
