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Teacher Appreciation Week Quiz—How much do YOU know about what it takes to be a public school teacher?

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Teacher Appreciation Week 2023 is from May 8 through 12 this year. Each year, we dedicate this special week to celebrating the hard work, sacrifice, and love that goes into educating our kids. Teachers and parents alike are looking for Teacher Appreciation Week activities to help kids recognize the important role their teachers play in their lives.

Take the Teacher Appreciation Week Quiz!

One Teacher Appreciation Week idea is to learn a little bit about what it’s like to be a public school teacher. Our teachers are so often underpaid and overworked—and they also have a wealth of experience and compassion for our children. Do you think you know what it takes to be a public school teacher? Take this quiz to find out!

1) What is the average salary for a public school teacher in the United States?

2) How many hours does a public school teacher typically work each week?

3) What percentage of public school teachers need to take a second job or summer job to make ends meet?

4) What is the typical child-to-teacher ratio in US public elementary school classrooms?

5) How much does a public school teacher typically pay out of pocket for classroom supplies per year?

6) How many years of teaching experience does the average public school teacher have?

7) What percentage of public school teachers reported feeling undervalued by society?

Public school teachers do so much.

They teach our kids ABCs and advanced calculus and everything in between, all while supporting kids’ social-emotional skills throughout every stage of their development. Teachers are often the first to notice if a child is struggling in any way and are expertly trained in addressing many critical issues, from learning difficulties to bullying and even things like economic distress at home.

No matter their ZIP code or the color of their skin, teachers are creating lesson plans while they create a sense of safety and belonging for their students. They are getting up early to make it work and they stay up late with worry. Teachers are working with parents and caregivers while they work without enough resources. They are reaching students who are falling behind and must reach into their own pockets to transform classrooms into learning environments. 

Teachers are champions for their students and too often step up to fill in as counselors and nurses to their students when schools are without these professionals. They are more than just teachers, and they deserve so much more than what we’re giving them and can do so much more when communities and our elected officials provide the resources their students need to thrive. 

So let’s join together to tell the teachers we know that we will listen to them, we will stand with them, and together we will take action to fix these problems so every student has a teacher who feels respected, supported, and more than taken for granted! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Mckenna Saady is a staff writer and digital content lead for ParentsTogether. Before working for nonprofits such as the Human Rights Campaign and United Way, Mckenna spent nearly a decade as a child care provider and Pre-K teacher. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now lives in Philadelphia and writes poetry, fiction, and children’s literature in her spare time.