May 5, 2006


California’s ‘Day of the Teacher’ to be observed May 10

The Evergreen Teachers Association (ETA) will join the Evergreen Elementary School District, students and members of the community in celebrating “Day of the Teacher” on Wednesday, May 10.

This marks the 24th anniversary of the day, established to give special recognition to teachers for their contributions to education and the lives of California’s children. This year’s theme is “California Teachers: Bringing Dreams to Life.”

“Day of the Teacher has always been a time to recognize and appreciate the educators in local schools,” said Diana Messamer, President of the Evergreen Teachers Association. “The teachers in this community are committed to excellence in our schools. Most of our teachers are at school early in the morning and stay long after the students are dismissed. They spend countless hours at night and on weekends preparing motivating lessons for their students.”

“All 17 of our eligible district schools have received the California Distinguished School Award thanks to the dedication and expertise of our teachers,” added Will Ector, Director of Human Resources for the Evergreen Elementary School District.

Carolyn Clark, the district’s newest school, is not yet eligible.

CTA and the Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE) sponsored the bill, SB1546, first proclaiming Day of the Teacher. It was written by Sen. Joseph Montoya (D-El Monte) and signed into law in 1982. The California celebration is patterned after “El Dia del Maestro” celebrations in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

“School Districts throughout California face the challenge of providing quality education even though they are one of the lowest funded states in the nation,” said Messamer. “California schools continue to be shorted, and our governor has still not made good on his promise to return the $3 billion he borrowed from public education two years ago. Our school district alone has been faced with making cuts in many budget areas. Personnel at all levels have been reduced. Administrators, instructional assistants, custodians, and other personnel who provide support and services to our students have been significantly reduced. We now only have two (2) librarians and two (2) nurses to provide services to Evergreen’s 18 schools. Programs, such as music and after school programs, have been severely reduced. We think our students deserve better. To ‘bring dreams to life,’ our students need the support and services that will provide them with an excellent education.”

“We hope the Evergreen community will take a moment on May 10 to observe the ‘Day of the Teacher’ by recognizing the work of local teachers and all school employees,” added Clif Black, Evergreen Elementary School District Superintendent.