U.S. Secretary of Education Spellings Recognizes Teacher Appreciation Week

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today issued the following statement recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week:

It’s my pleasure to join the nation this week in recognizing the tireless efforts of our teachers. It is no secret that teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world and, undoubtedly, one of the most important. This week, and every week, we thank teachers for their hard work.

As U.S. Secretary of Education, I have had the privilege of listening to teachers across the country share stories of their classroom successes and challenges. These are some of the most memorable and rewarding moments of my job.

If there is one thing that I have learned throughout my travels, it’s that education is not a “one-size-fits-all” enterprise. Through the No Child Left Behind Act, our teachers can fine-tune instruction to make sure that every child is learning. They have more tools to measure student progress and better data to identify which strategies are most effective.

A lot of good work is being done in our classrooms. Quality teachers are making it happen, and students are responding by making impressive gains. Reading scores for nine-year-olds have increased more in five years than in the previous 28 years combined. And achievement gaps between poor and minority students and their peers are finally beginning to close.

Nothing helps a child learn as much as a great teacher. As a mom, I know this to be true. And I offer my gratitude for their work on behalf of our nation’s children and future.