It is often said it takes a village to raise a child. The saying could not be truer and I firmly believe our country’s teachers are an important part of that village.

Primary education provides the foundation a child needs to be successful for the rest of their life. It could be argued the most important duty we have in our communities is to educate the next generation and we entrust our teachers to fulfill that duty. As the father of six kids who all attend a small, rural public school in Oklahoma, I understand firsthand the importance of a child’s education and the role our educators play in our children’s lives.

Teachers do more than just teach our kids reading, writing and arithmetic. They teach them valuable life lessons they will carry with them throughout their lives. They are a support system and provide encouragement through difficult times. They inspire their students to work hard and chase their dreams.

We all have teachers that have made a lasting impact on our lives and we can still recall the lessons they’ve taught us. Without the teachers who pushed me to do better as well as the ones who disciplined me when I deserved it, I know I would not be where I am today.

Our children are the successors of our community and their success is our community’s success. As our kids begin to head back to school, be sure to thank a teacher in our community for all they do to help shape the young minds of the future.