The 95th annual observance of American Education Week is this week.
Our AEW tagline, “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility,” speaks to the importance of bringing together teachers, parents, students and communities in a unified effort to build and maintain great public schools.


Today’s teachers do more than teach basic skills. We nurture and inspire children of all backgrounds, regardless of economic disadvantage or advantage.
Along with para-educators, school secretaries and other staff, we help students learn essential skills not always measured in testing, such as critical thinking, conflict resolution, cooperation and problem solving, which help students throughout life.


But we know that no school is without problems. There is always something needing improvement.
That’s why we have programs that advance teaching and learning including our TPEP (Teacher Principal Evaluation Project) mentors and ongoing professional development that help both veteran and new teachers provide the best instruction in all subject areas.


Parents, I invite you to visit your child’s classroom and learn for yourself how you and the teacher can work together. If you do not have children, please consider visiting your nearest public school and see today’s teachers in action. Ask how you can contribute to a child’s success. We’ll be glad to advise.


Thank you for taking time to read this letter.
We are proud to make a difference in the lives of the students we teach.


Barry Burnett,
Fourth-grade teacher
Port Angeles Education Association President