In the healthcare world, May is our season for celebrating – Nurses Week is May 6-12, followed directly by Hospital Week. Yet, I realize that this is also National Teacher Appreciation Week and the month when so many teachers, students and their families would be enjoying those many year-end activities such as award ceremonies, concerts, classroom parties and graduations. How much this COVID-19 crisis has changed for all of us in 2020 …
At Adventist Health Bakersfield, I’m happy to report that we have chosen to move forward with our celebrations, although they will look much different than in past years. It is my prayer that your school celebrations will return, in some form, soon as well. But, until then, I wanted to take this occasion of National Teacher Appreciation Week and acknowledge your contributions during this unprecedented time in history.
I know how much you must miss the personal interaction with your students, but I also know that your commitment to finding solutions that still meet their educational needs is yet another example of your devotion. You may not be teaching in your classroom, but you are teaching life lessons that will positively impact the children in our community for years to come. You are showing them what it means to care, that even when the world turns upside down – we still work toward our goals.
After all, if not for the dedication, commitment and positive influence of the teachers in our lives, we would not be able to fulfill our organization’s mission to provide health, wholeness and hope.
Each of our employees at Adventist Health Bakersfield – whether they have followed a career path that led to direct patient care or taken another, non-clinical role within our organization – owes a tremendous debt to the teachers in their lives.
Simply put: Your work inspires ours.
So, as we all find ways to find the joys and celebrations in this “new normal” of ours, please know that we appreciate our teachers and we thank you for your service to this community. As much as this world has changed, due to COVID-19, please know that my hopes, prayers and gratefulness for your great work remain the same – Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!