The teachers at our school are certainly worthy of much appreciation.

Despite whatever scrutiny the district has been under this past year due to changing policies and budget cuts, the very foundation of our school—the teachers—has remained rock solid. It is important to appreciate the fact that ultimately our teachers are the ones educating us students, and they have done an excellent job in maintaining their quality of teaching while still adapting to the new standards based grading system.

In our experience, with very few exceptions, teachers are very familiar with the subject matter they teach and go above and beyond to ensure that each student is in an environment where he or she can truly succeed. And this dedication, this attitude that fosters an exceptional learning environment, is what makes our school so great.

In addition to the learning environment, the teachers have done a fantastic job of dealing with the cuts in teacher points over the last year in trying to deal with Rockwood’s projected million dollar shortfall. Despite the looming fear that their job may be in jeopardy, teachers continue to make their classrooms and teaching styles ones where students are able to learn, no matter their learning styles.

The staying power our teachers have is incredible. Staying to teach every single day, sometimes for as much as five periods a day, can be physically straining. Writing tests and quizzes based on the same information given in those presentations and then grading them can only be even more tiring.

Teachers are hardly ever recognized for the work they do. On behalf of the student body, the Messenger would like to do it now: thank you, teachers.