140th Anniversary Celebration
The following is the transcript of a speech given at the districts’ 140th anniversary celebration.
Celebrating Teachers
Linda Mitchell, President
Santa Barbara Teachers Association
June 6, 2006
Today we are celebrating the 140th year of the Santa Barbara School Districts, and this celebration could not take place without the hundreds of certificated educators in this school district.
I am here today representing those educators as President of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association. We as an association have a long and lustrous history as well, but that is another celebration.
It has been said that educators care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think possible. And I, for one, know it is true, and it fills me with pride.
Thank you educators for caring, and thank you for all that you do. Your generosity of spirit and your commitment to the cause of children and public education is inspiring.
Educators do their best to ensure that all children realize their dreams and become productive and contributing members of society. They never give up; to them the children are much more than a statistic. They are a name, a smile, and often a tug on their hearts. Their joy as educators is to see their eyes light up with excitement and enthusiasm when they learn something new or master a skill set.
The teaching professional has changed dramatically, especially the last forty years. The majority of the nation’s three million teachers have at least a master’s degree and an average of 15 years experience. In addition, more than 75 percent of all teachers participate in professional development related to their grade or subject level.
A teacher spends an average of 50 hours per week on all teaching duties, including adjunct duties, grading papers, bus duty, and club advising.
A teacher spends an average of $430 a year of their won money to meet the needs of their students.
But… they enter the teaching profession to help shape the next generation. Nearly three out of four enter teaching because their desire to work with young people. And nearly seven out of ten teachers cite it as the reason for remaining in the profession.
Our educators keep the promise, passing on knowledge, skills, values and dreams from one generation to the next. Qualified and committed teachers are a critical part of the foundation for great public schools. Santa Barbara School Districts is a part of that foundation. Happy anniversary Santa Barbara School Districts.
Thank you.