State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Notes Contribution of Teachers
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson urged Californians to honor teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week on May 5-11, National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 7, and California Day of the Teacher on May 8. California's Day of the Teacher theme this year is "California Teachers: Honoring our past. Guiding the future."
"I believed it when I started my career as an educator, and I'm even more certain of it now: Teaching is the most important job there is," Torlakson said. "As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we should reflect on the fact that teachers are often the greatest champions our children have. Their care and skill inspire our students, motivate them to do their best, and prepare them for the world beyond the classroom. Inside those classrooms, teachers are not only the brains—they're also the heart. Let's celebrate them not only for what they teach, but also for giving us all the great gift of learning to believe in ourselves."
This week also marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the California Teachers Association 
by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Swett.
by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Swett.# # # #
Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
