Academics and student achievement are crucial topics in the dialogue surrounding education in America today. Teachers are constantly working with their students who have varying needs and past learning experiences in order to ensure that they are growing and learning. And teachers, we thank you for that because we know it is a hard job. The new report Primary Sources: America's Teachers on Teaching in an Era of Change shares the viewpoints of more than 20,000 teachers and we've shared many pieces of data from the report including that 88% of teachers agree that the rewards of teaching outweigh the challenges. Today, I want to spend some more time on the pieces outside of just academics. For example, 99% of teachers agreed with the statement: Teaching is more than academics; it is also about reinforcing good citizenship, resilience and social skills. This elementary school teacher's quote echoes that sentiment.
We also asked teachers about what makes a great teacher. Overwhelming it was clear that there isn't just one attribute or skill. It is a combination of many talents and strategies that make a teacher great, from classroom management to content delivery, but to point out two, 99% reported that it is very or extremely important to create an environment where students feel safe making mistakes and 90% said the same about being interested in students' lives in and outside of school.
Again, academics are crucial but it is important to remember the many different aspects of teaching and how much students evolve when in school with teachers as their guide.
