American Education Week, an annual observance honoring students, educators, and parents, is taking place November 13 through 17 to highlight the need for every community to be able to provide a quality public education for every student.
In order to fully support our students we also need to support their teachers—and right now, a record numbers of educators are eyeing the exits and fewer people are entering the teaching profession.
A recent CEA survey of 7,600 Connecticut educators found that 77% of teachers are feeling more frustration and burnout than in the past, in many cases the highest level of burnout ever—and nearly three-quarters (74%) say they are more likely to retire or leave the profession early.
“If you look at our data, it’s telling the story of educators who are stressed out and not feeling supported,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “We need to ensure our educators are supported, valued, and compensated fairly.”
Each year, American Education Week takes place the week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. It was first celebrated in 1921, with NEA and the American Legion as co-sponsors, and grew out of a national concern over illiteracy. After more than 100 years, the original goal of American Education Week—to generate public awareness and support for education—continues today.
American Education Week honors students’ determination to learn; recognizes the professionalism and dedication of teachers, support staff, and other educators; thanks parents and members of the community who help students succeed; and rededicates the community at large to quality public education for every student.
