By Rebecca Houg, staff writer

Join educators this week in celebrating American Education Week Nov. 12-18. This year&8217;s theme is &8220;Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility.&8221;

The theme highlights the importance of bringing together teachers, school staff, parents, students and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools.

The week also calls upon Americans to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper and achieve in the 21st century.

To spotlight all the people who make public schools great for every child, individual celebration days are being encouraged throughout the week.

– Monday: Nationwide Kickoff Celebration

– Tuesday: Invite Parents to School Day

– Wednesday: Education Support Professionals Day

– Thursday: Educator For a Day

– Friday: Substitute Educators Day

Celebrated the first full week before Thanksgiving, American Education Week began in 1921 as a way to generate public awareness and support for education at a time when illiteracy was still a major problem in the United States.

Judy Knudtson, curriculum director, she didn&8217;t think Albert Lea Public Schools would be participating in any of the days, but that didn&8217;t mean they don&8217;t encourage the involvement of the community.

&8220;It&8217;s a good thing to do, there could be things planned out at some of the different locations that I&8217;m not aware of,&8221; she said.