Posted outside my classroom door hangs a quote that states, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
To me, this quote represents the crux of why we as educators do what we do every day.
As metaphorical gardeners, teachers watch for the child who needs a little extra fertilizer, wipe away tears when one of our students begins to wilt, notice when a child lacks nutrients, and make sure that they’re well watered for a full day in the sun.
Even as weeds come, we never stop believing that the garden will bear fruit.
We watch. We wait. We hope. We believe.
We celebrate the sprouting, even when we must look closely to see it. We learn from mistakes, understanding true growth only comes from pruning and refining our practice.
We eagerly share tips and tricks with other gardeners, motivating each other to keep planting, with anticipation that the harvest will nourish our community and fuel the future.
We reflect and recognize the climate has changed in a short span with societal conditions outside of our control.
There’s a drought of human connection, yet windstorms of virtual connections ensue.
As the mental health of students has withered, we have conversations, collectively wondering how to make this life-giving profession sustainable, as many are burned-out yet, simultaneously called to tend the terrain. We are the gardeners, and we believe in the sacred work of our profession.
Amidst these ever-changing societal conditions, we must stand stronger, collectively rooted together – just as the great redwood trees can stand over 350 feet tall for thousands of years, only because their root systems are so intricately woven with the roots of other redwoods in the community – we are nothing without the support of one another.
As gardeners, we also stand as evidence that we ourselves stand in the shade of trees that others have planted.
The seeds that we sow cultivate our students to bloom exactly where they are planted – fully engaged to display the individualized beauty and purpose for which each was uniquely created. This garden, tended today, has the opportunity to grow and re-seed thousands of times over.
Who knows where the wind will blow and carry the impact we cultivate to other plots?
The future is unlimited, so fearlessly keep plowing. Keep planting. Keep cultivating. We are the gardeners, and we believe in tomorrow.
This November marks the 6th annual Thank Alabama Teachers Month, and we’re celebrating the educators who are more than teachers.
These thoughtful planters are the reason Alabama is seeing real promise – ranking first in the nation for math recovery, third in reading recovery, and landing well above the national average in graduation rates.
We’re seeing this progress and upward movement due to the countless ways our teachers are working together to transform seeded potential to our state’s greatest harvest – impacting students, families, and communities for generations to come.
Learn more about how you can thank Alabama teachers.
Katie Collins is the 2025-26 Alabama Teacher of the Year. An educator from Bluff Park Elementary School, Katie serves as the state’s official ambassador for public education and has spent 21 years in the profession. Katie was instrumental in creating the Communities Family Literacy Program, which provides English language services for ESL students and families in the Hoover City School System.
