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With all of the area schools now back in session, we ask you to take a minute this week to thank a teacher.

Teachers work hard under high community expectations and not nearly enough gratitude. They serve not only as traditional teachers of academics, but as teachers of life skills, role models, confidants, mediators, mentors, cheerleaders and nurturers, among many other roles.

Teachers are not only the backbone of our nation’s education system, they are a guiding force in helping our children develop into healthy, happy and successful adults.

But being a teacher has never been more difficult, as they must keep up on effective ways to reach a diverse classroom and work to find creative ways to reach a new generation. They have to make sure students fulfill requirements to graduate, not to mention help their students meet state standards, all while dealing with an eye open for drugs and other harmful things.

As the community embarks on a new school year, we ask parents and other residents to support teachers in their critical role in the community.

We can only imagine all of the challenges teachers these days face, and just as the students need cheerleaders, so do the teachers.

Thank you for working with our community’s children.

We are all better off thanks to your hard work and dedication.