Public encouraged to take part in ‘Thank Alabama Teachers Week’

The Alabama State Department Department of Education, with help from Governor Kay Ivey, has launched a campaign to make sure teachers in Alabama know how much they are appreciated.

Members of the public are asked to post “#ThankALTeachers” on social media, write a handwritten letter, or make a donation of school supplies to a local classroom. Businesses are encouraged to offer discounts on their goods and services to local teachers.

Ivey, a former teacher herself, proclaimed earlier in the month that the week from Nov. 16-22 this year will serve as “Thank Alabama Teachers Week.”

“The challenges presented to Alabama teachers this year are unprecedented, and we want them to know how much they are appreciated and how much we see them and all they are doing,” said Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama state superintendent of education, in a release.

Separate from the Teachers Appreciation Week that is normally celebrated in the spring, Thank Alabama Teachers Week sprung out of thanks for the job being done by teachers amid the challenging circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Alabama teachers have been thrust into a reality that none of us could have predicted, however they’ve done so with determination, strength and perseverance,” remarked Ivey in a release.

“The mounted stresses of today’s classroom along with the new world in which we find ourselves are a heavy brunt to bear, yet we see the resilience and tenacity of our educators across the state daily. Their sacrifices are unlimited and their selflessness immeasurable, and for that, we proudly honor them,” she added.

More details on how to participate in Thank Alabama Teachers Week can be found here.


Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.