During National Teacher Appreciation Week, Michigan Virtual echoed the national theme urging policymakers, school leaders, and communities to include with their words of gratitude, meaningful, sustained action to support educators. Across Michigan, teachers are navigating increasing demands from staffing shortages to rapidly evolving classroom technology, all while continuing to show up for students every day.
“As an education partner who sees firsthand that teachers are the single most important in-school factor in a student’s success, we want to uplift their importance this National Teacher Appreciation Week,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “True learning happens when teachers are active, engaged participants in a student’s education, whether that be in-person, online or a hybrid setting.”
According to the National Education Association, the quality of a student’s education depends on the quality of their educators. When teachers are invested, students benefit the most. Michigan Virtual supports educators through professional development offerings and AI guidance. Last year, more than 122,000 educators completed 781,000 hours of professional learning by collaborating with Michigan Virtual. Resources and results such as these help educators to build meaningful relationships with students and their communities, enabling them to teach, inspire, and help students reach their full potential.
“Teachers show up for their students every single day, and we want to show up for them not just during the school year, but year-round, statewide, and beyond,” said Stacey Schuh, senior director of Michigan Virtual’s Professional Learning Services. “The educators we work with are so thoughtful and dedicated, and they deserve professional learning that reflects that same care and commitment back to them. That’s why we work to meet teachers where they’re at and provide the support they need to succeed.”
This National Teacher Appreciation Week, Michigan Virtual is calling upon policymakers, communities, and parents of students to join them in showing their public support for educators through actions such as using the National Parent Teacher Association’s thank you materials or National Education Association NTAW toolkit. To learn more about how Michigan Virtual supports educators, visit michiganvirtual.org/
