How You Can Support Teachers

by Alex Ruybalid, Partner Engagement Director

One thing that always sticks out to me about Jesus’ life was how intentional he was about children. He held up their faith as an example and taught us to care for them.

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.”

— Mark 9:37

One way we can care for children is caring for our community’s teachers. Each day our teachers wake up and spend crucial hours connecting with our kids, guiding them to becoming successful adults. They use their own resources, their emotional energy, and their extra time to make sure kids in our neighborhood are seen, heard, and made to feel like the unique creations of God that they are.

It is no secret that teachers are stepping away from the profession in record numbers. Now more than ever, they need our support and prayer. In this tough time, here are four ways we can support teachers in KCK and throughout Kansas City:

Four Ways to Support Teachers:

Venmo or send a gift card

Everybody loves coffee - especially teachers! How about sending $5 for a Starbucks drink or a gift card to a teacher in your life? These small acts of encouragement help them know that you see them.

Email them with your appreciation

Many teachers do not hear the good feedback. If your child says something appreciative about their teacher, let them know! Send an email of encouragement to the teachers in your life to make sure they feel encouraged.

In the words of my friend who teaches 5th grade math: “Those emails are my fuel!”

Sign-up to substitute teach

As a substitute teacher, I know first-hand the multitude of job openings each day just in the KCK USD 500 school district alone. If you have a college degree and a heart for young people, I would encourage you to sign-up to substitute teach. I hear from many teachers that this is the #1 way you can support them. Learn more here.

Prayer

This one is obvious, but let’s remember to keep teachers in our prayers. Pray that they would stay encouraged even when the kids are tired and staff morale has dropped. Pray that their reservoirs of patience would be refilled. Pray that they would wake up each day with the energy to invest in the young ones in their classroom.

Between my teacher friends and my side-hustle as a substitute teacher, I have really seen the challenge that teachers are facing. It is really on my heart that the church should be the answer to supporting our teachers. With just a month left of school, let’s make sure the teachers in our life feel our support!