FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) - Being a teacher isn't easy. The hours are long, you don't actually get summers off, but the work is rewarding. However, it often feels like a thankless job, but is it really?
Kim Yoh is 4th grade teacher at Haley Elementary in FWCS. She’s been teaching for 27 years and seen a lot of changes in teaching over the years. Including gratitude.
Yoh said, "I think it’s a lot less thankful. I think there is so much stress put on the students that we as teachers don’t get to see the real fun of the kids."
That’s part of the reason why Yoh likes working with kids, getting to know them.
Her classes used to go on more field trips, but now, they’re doing more testing.
Sarah Gerig is a 1st grade teacher at Southwick Elementary in EACS. Only in her 3rd year, she’s already making relationships with her students, which is an important part of being a teacher.
"You don’t understand how much love there is until you are with kids all day. They just don’t know anything but love," Gerig said.
That love. Expressed through notes.
Gerig read some of her notes to FOX 55, one said "Thank you for calling me smart and sweet. You’re the best teacher ever in my whole life."
Notes to Yoh were similar, "Thank you Mrs. Yoh, you are so fun. I could not ask for more. I love you as a teacher. Sincerely, Jayden."
Both Yoh and Gerig have dozens of notes from parents and students. Binders full of notes. Notes that fill corkboards.
Notes from today. Notes from 18 years ago. These notes, these thank you’s, help keep teachers going
Yoh said, "On those bad days I have to put my little letters up there so I know that even though it’s been a bad day and even though maybe it’s been a bad week that somebody has appreciate."
The appreciation, is because of one thing. Love.
Gerig said, "I feel like they know I love them and i think that all of my students know love, but they know, unconditionally, i’m going to love them."
End even though the love hasn’t changed over the years, the appreciation has. So make sure to thank a teacher "Because some of the time we’re seeing or hearing when we’ve done something wrong instead of something right," Yoh said.
