Tuesday, May 3, 2016, was National Teacher Appreciation Day. It is a day to say thank you for all of the caring work teachers do for children. According to the National Education Association, the idea for National Teacher Day originated in 1944. Then in 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt convinced Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day. The original celebration was in March. Now the celebration is the first Tuesday of the first full week in May. President Obama declared the entire week National Teacher Appreciation Week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 3, 2016, as National Teacher Appreciation Day and May 1 through May 7, 2016, as National Teacher Appreciation Week. I call upon students, parents, and all Americans to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Nation's teachers and to observe this day and this week by supporting teachers through appropriate activities, events, and programs.

For all providers in child development, National Provider Appreciation Day is Friday, May 6, 2016, a day to say thank you to all the educators who care for children and support families. I want to say thank you to the early childhood and out-of-school-time educators who work long hours and provide care and guidance to the youngest in our society. Thank you to the educators who learn and evolve their practice so children will have the greatest opportunity to grow at their own pace. Thank you to the educators who see play as a gift, not something that is in the way of real learning. Thank you to the educators who see creativity as a process and not a product.

Thank you to all of the teachers in my life. I have learned so much from you. My learning journey in child development started in college with one extraordinary college professor who taught us it was okay to play and that play was the great medium in which all of us can flourish and grow. Play is the essence of who we can be and is our finest teacher.

Thank you to my first public recreation supervisor, who taught me the power of recreation and how it can transform and enrich lives. We spent many hours together coming up with ideas and learning all we could. Our goal was to encourage the children in our care to love recreation, love being active, and love playing outside as much as possible. The children from those days are now adults, and I hope that our meeting was something that enriched their lives as much as it enriched ours.

Thank you to my mentor at the college lab school, where I enriched my practice. She was so supportive and modeled what a great leader is. She encouraged the teaching team to use our evolving education as we discovered alternative pedagogies. She was open to employing new philosophies with the children. She supported or efforts to have a program that was about care and building a community where families participated and flourished.

Thank you to all the educators I have had the pleasure of working with here in Portland. Your work and the creativity you display in your practice inspire me.

Thank you to all the educators in the workshops and classes I have attended for your hard work and preparation. Your gift of documenting and sharing your work with children inspires us and helps us be better in our practice.

Thank you to all of the educators in the programs I have guided, for your inspiration, ideas, patience, and for being willing to listen to my thoughts about how school-age children can learn.

We want to wish all educators a happy Teacher Appreciation Week. Our mission is to support your journey. Our primary purpose at Possibilities ECE is to tell your story, to recognize your hard work, and to provide a place where you feel supported. We want to acknowledge you every day and to have people see you for the professional you are. We know what matters. It is what you do every day to enhance the lives of children and families.

Thank You.

Please take the time to thank the educators you work with today.

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