A Love Letter To Teachers

We hope you will join us in showing our gratitude to and solidarity with teachers here.

Dear Teachers,

You are our heroes. Every day of this pandemic, you have blown us away with your creativity, compassion, and commitment, your tenacity and heart. You have moved mountains to reach each child, wherever they are and despite the challenges that stand in your way. You’ve taught math classes while standing outside of homes, led online meditations to start the “school” day, created PE classes from your living room, filmed DIY science experiments, and found ways to check in with each kid. You’ve not only taught lessons; you have been our children’s lifeline to normalcy and stability, a tether and a point of connection. When Shonda Rhimes tweeted, “Been homeschooling a 6-year old and 8-year old for one hour and 11 minutes. Teachers deserve to make a billion dollars a year. Or a week,” she put into words the collective appreciation of the nation’s parents.

Here’s the secret you’ve known all along but is only now clear to the rest of us: It was always true.

As leaders deeply invested in the nonpartisan, multi-sector, national effort to prepare and support 100,000 excellent preK-12 STEM teachers by 2021, we salute you. In our living rooms and kitchens, our bedrooms and makeshift one-room schoolhouses, we are standing and cheering for all the world to hear: “We love you, teachers!”

Not because it’s easy or because you get it right every day. It isn’t, and you don’t. But you’ve chosen to get in the arena and stay there. You have managed, not just during this crisis but against the backdrop of the everyday grind, to bring joy in the midst of struggle. You have taught kids from history books and stories, legends and myths in which your names do not appear. But when we tell the story of this time, the work of teachers and what you have done to educate, inspire, and connect us all will be front and center.

Even as we add our names to this letter, we know that praise without action rings hollow. Your courage during this time strengthens our resolve to tackle the systemic issues that have made it difficult for so long to get and keep great teachers, especially for our least resourced schools and communities, and especially in STEM.

On behalf of our students and our country, we the undersigned pledge to link arms with you to bring the changes in salary and work conditions, professional support and development, classroom resources and leadership that you have dreamt of, so that you can continue to fuel the dreams of our country’s children. In these uncertain times, we will stand with you not just to protect progress that’s been made in communities across the country but to make even greater strides to recognize and value the essential role of teachers.

There is an ancient teaching that the world itself rests on the breath of children when they are learning. Across these great United States, communities understand more profoundly than ever before that our very existence depends on the work you are doing. We are so grateful.

We hope you will join us in showing our gratitude to and solidarity with teachers here.

Signed,

100Kin10
Grace DoramusChief Innovation Officer
Guadalupe CarrascoAdministrative Coordinator
Joi RaeChief of Staff
Julie PaturzoSenior Manager, Partner Engagement
Kate IsenbergManager, Data & Insights
Kendra DanowskiCommunity Designer & Manager
Lauren BaierCommunity Designer & Manager
Mable YiuCommunity Coordinator
Mesha ByrdNetwork Manager
Monique HoeflingerDirector of Strategy
Pomai VerzonStrategic Initiatives Manager
Talia Milgrom-ElcottExecutive Director and Founder
Vincent BaggettOperations Coordinator
Yasmin Sabrina FodilChief Program Officer

A. Peterson

Alec MacaulayDirector of School & District Partnerships, Out Teach

Alice H. GilchristCoordinator, S2TEM Centers South Carolina

Amanda J. SmithSTEM Outreach Liaison, Penn State University

Ambika KapurProgram Officer, Education, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Ann WescottSpecial Education Teacher, Region 12 Connecticut

Anne GatlingMerrimack College

Ani MartinezField Director, Remake Learning

Anu MalipatilVice President, Education, Overdeck Family Foundation, Overdeck Family Foundation

Ashley YoungScience Education Program Manager, Amgen Foundation

Babette MoellerDistinguished Scholar, EDC Center for Children and Technology

Barbara HugTeaching Associate Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Education

Bethany OrozcoStatewide Recruitment & Communications Director, EnCorps STEM Teachers Program

Bill ThornburghExecutive Officer, American Modeling Teachers Association

Braeden MayrischDirector, Social Impact, Voya Financial

Brandy Skylling

Breanna VillenaFaculty Manager, Western Governors University

Brianna DonaldsonDirector, Math Teachers’ Circle Network

Brienne EricsonMom of Two Kids, Thomas Paine PTA

Brooke HaleyEvent Coordinator, Youth Code Jam

Brooke Higgins

Bryan and Emily Ayscue HasselCo-presidents, Public Impact – on behalf of the entire Public Impact staff

Carla ChaffineMINTS Instructional Specialist, eMINTS National Center – University of Missouri

Cara WylieProgram Coordinator, eMINTS National Center – University of Missouri

Carly BaldwinTeacher, Boyd County High School

Carlos LeónDirector Learning Design, Mouse

Carol L. FletcherDirector, Expanding Pathways in Computing (EPIC), The University of Texas at Austin

Carolyn LandelAssociate Vice Provost for Academic Collaboration, University of Texas at Austin

Cassie Klein

Chalene Martinez

Charles KingExecutive Director, Kansas City Teacher Residency

Chelsea ClintonVice Chair, Clinton Foundation

Christine TerryInstructional Specialist and Parent, eMINTS National Center – University of Missouri

Claire Wescott

Clea MatsonTeacher Professional Development, California Academy of Sciences

Colleen M Hinds-RodgersNational Director of STEM, Teach for America

Corrie CanadayTeachers College Program Portfolio Manager – STEM, Western Governors University

Cory A. GavittSenior Instructor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Danielle CarnivalCEO, I AM ALS

Daisy SharrockProject Director, High Tech High Graduate School of Education

Darcy MoodyAdvocacy and Program Development, Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent

Debbie ReynoldsSTEM Integration Specialist, Harrison Middle School/Baldwin-Whitehall School District

Debi PfitzenmaierExecutive Director, Youth Code Jam

Deborah D. SachsTeach (STEM)³ Coordinator, University of Indianapolis

Dewayne MorganDirector of Partnerships and Collaborations, University System of Maryland

Diana Cornejo-SanchezDirector, HTH Teacher Center

Donna TaylorAssistant Director of Professional Development, The STEM Education Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

DonorsChoose

Douglas Hodum

Dr. Aaron PophamInterim Dean & Academic Vice President, Teachers College, Western Governors University

Dr. Lisa N. DuvalSuperintendent, South Allegheny School District

Dr. Mary UrquhartAssociate Professor, University of Texas at Dallas

Dr. Nate CarnesAssociate Professor, University of South Carolina

Dr. Nicole MartinResearch Associate, University of Texas at Austin

Earl LegleiterDirector of Science and Mathematics Education Institute, Fort Hays State University

Eduardo CetlinPresident, Amgen Foundation

Eileen YangSenior Manager, Genentech, Inc.

Elena Lopez , Professional Development Manager, California Science Center

Ellen FredeSenior Co-director, NIEER

Ellie GoldbergDoctoral Student in STEM Education, The University of Texas at Austin

Elliot RansomCo-CEO, UChicago Impact

Emily LymanSr. Manager, Western Governors University

Fernand BrunschwigPresident, STEMteachersNYC (STEM Teachers of NYC, Inc.)

Frank CortazzoSchool Board Member, South Allegheny School District

Frank NiepoldSenior Climate Education Program Manager and Coordinator, NOAA Climate Program Office

Frederick W. FrekingProfessor of Clinical Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California

Frank W. Spencer IVPrincipal and Lead Futurist, Kedge and The Futures School

Gay B StewartDirector, Center for Excellence in STEM Education, West Virginia University

Ginger Duiven

Grant Garrison

Gregg BehrExecutive Director, The Grable Foundation

Guy HarringtonPresident, Teaching Channel

Hank NourseChief Learning Officer, New York Academy of Sciences

Hannah MacNaughtonStudent, University of Dubuque

Hannah LakinSTEM Education Specialist, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance

Heather Roche

Heather Sopp FarnanFirst Grade Teacher, South Allegheny School District

Heidi Ragsdale

Heising-Simons Foundation

Helen CorveleynElementary STEM Facilitator , Hopewell Elementary School

Infosys Foundation USA

Ignited

Janet StramelProfessor, Fort Hays State University

Jaqueline Cortez WangSenior Director, Strategic Partnerships, International Society for Technology in Education

Jean-Claude BrizardSenior Advisor and Deputy Director, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Jeff Hawthorn

Jeff KennedyInstructional Specialist, Washington University in St. Louis Institute for School Partnership

Jen FostereMINTS Instructional Specialist, eMINTS National Center – University of Missouri Columbia College of Education

Jennifer E. CarinciProgram Director, STEM Education Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Jennifer GleasonSenior Educational Consultant, Teaching Matters

Jennifer HicksDirector of K-12 STEM Engagement, Purdue University

Jennifer F Kuehnle,* eMINTS – University of Missouri*

Jennifer McCrayAssociate Research Scientist, Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative

Jennifer UrmsonProgram Manager, Science is Elementary

Jeremy FordVP, Giving and Social Innovation, Dell Technologies

Jill ZeruthSenior Manager, Teachers College, Western Governors University

Joe SpaldingDirector, Initial Licensure Programs, Western Governors University

John KellerFiske Planetarium Director, University of Colorado, Boulder

John King10th U.S. Secretary of Education (Obama Administration) and President and CEO of The Education Trust

Josie BlueSr. Research Coordinator, San Diego Zoo Global

Joy Starks

Julie A. EvansEd.D., Chief Executive Officer, Project Tomorrow

Karen WilleyNaturalist, Climate Change Communications

Kate BlanchardManaging Director, National Education Initiatives , Teach For America

Katherine ChenExecutive Director, STEM Education Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Katherine MangumMS Science Teacher and FLL Coach, St. Catherine’s School

Katherine WilcoxExecutive Director, EnCorps STEM Teachers

Kathy RenfrewEducation Specialist Wade Institute for Science Education, Wade Institute for Science Education

Kerry BranchEducation Specialist, South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science/S2TEM Centers SC

Kim Boutwell, Regional Giving Manager, Dell Technologies*

Kim NewmanProgram Director, Murdock Charitable Trust

Kimberly BrennemanProgram Officer, Education, Heising-Simons Foundation

Kimberly DeMentDirector Advanced Programs Teachers College, Western Governors University

Kinkini BanerjeeDirector, Community and Network, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Kristy WallaceCEO, Ellevate Network

Lauren Thompson Allen

Laura Mac

Laura M. NickersonDirector of the STEM Teachers’ Collaborative, University of New Hampshire

Laura WildingaggieTEACH-Science Program Coordinator, Texas A&M University – College Station

Laurie SmithProgram Manager, OC STEM Initiative

LaVerne SrinivasanVice President National Program, Program Director Education, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Leigh CleaverOut Teach

Leigh PeakeChief Education Officer, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Lily Zandnia6-8 Math Specialist, Chicago Public Schools

Lindsay Wong5th Grade Teacher

Lisa BrownProfessional Learning Specialist, Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin

Loretta Kerner

Lori Price

Lynn BryanProfessor, Purdue University

Madison Wilson

Malia RamlerProgram Officer, Heising-Simons Foundation

Maria McClainMath Teacher, Deer Valley High School

Marie de KriegerTeacher in Residence, California Science Center

Marisa HarfordDirector of Teacher Residencies, New Visions for Public Schools

Marisa NathanSenior Consultant, Confianza

Marty Sixkiller

Mary Anne MCDonough

Melanie Hopkins

Melinda HigginsTribal STEM Advisor, CNI/Department of Energy/Office of Nuclear Energy

Melissa ThibaultVice Chancellor for Distance Education and Extended Programs, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Michelle KendrickProgram Coordinator, eMINTS National Center – University of Missouri

Monica N. RolandMathematics Educator

Mr. Atef Otefee

Nancy Hertz Ellis

Natalie ZartarianProgram Manager, Western Governors University

National Writing Project

New Classrooms

Nikki BrooksPrincipal, Public Schools of Robeson County

Nilofer MerchantAuthor, The Power of Onlyness

Pamela BriceEducation Specialist, SCCMS/S2TEMCenters South Carolina

Patricio HerbstProfessor of Education and Mathematics, University of Michigan

Patrick Moyle

Patti CurtisSTEM Fellow, U.S. Department of Education

Pradeep “Max” DassProfessor and Director, CSTL, Northern Arizona University

Rachel MillstoneScience Lecturer/Supervisor, University of California, San Diego

Rachel RoweSenior Faculty Manager, Western Governors University

Ragnar von SchiberAssociate Director, Genentech

Rex BabieraDirector of Professional Learning, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Rob LeichnerSecondary Math Specialist, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Robyn A. YewellTeacher, Amphitheater Public Schools, Winifred Harelson Elementary School

Rohan PavuluriCEO, Upsolve

Roxanne SisakSenior Manager, Program Faculty, Western Governors University

Russell WongBoard Member, Community Resources for Science

Ryan WallSenior Manager for Program Faculty, Advanced Programs, Western Governors University

Sadie NorwickSenior Manager K-8 Programming, National Math and Science Initiative

Sagit BetserBay Area Discovery Museum

Samantha Lindgren

Sandy Morris

Sara LeikinDirector, Strategic Initiatives, National Math and Science Initiative

Sarah Freundlich5th Grade Teacher, Lexington Local Schools

Sarah C. SouleSenior Manager of Teacher Professional Development, California Academy of Sciences

Schools That Can

Scott HeimlichVice President, Amgen Foundation

Scott Pulsipher

Sharon ShermanProfessor, Rider University

Sherry Cockerham

Sonya Pryor JonesChief Implementation Officer, Fab Foundation

Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Ph.D., VP Operations, Teachers College, Western Governors University

Susan SheridanTechnology Engineering Teacher, Gardner High School

Susan McPhersonFounder and CEO, McPherson Strategies

Tad BrinkerhoffDirector, eMINTS National Center – University of Missouri

Teresa BarnettExecutive Director, Community Resources for Science

Teresa Kennedy, PhDProfessor International STEM and Bilingual/ELL Education, The University of Texas at Tyler

Thomas T PetersExecutive Director, South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science

Tiffany TaberSenior Adviser to the President & CEO, The Education Trust

Tom O’ConnellChief Partnerships Officer, Mouse

Tonya M. MatthewsAssociate Provost Inclusive Workforce and Dir STEM Innovation Learning Center, Wayne State University

Tracey CampbellRegional Coordinator, South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science

Trena L. WilkersonPresident, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Tzipor Ulman, PhDCEO, Science is Elementary

Umbreen Bhatti

Vang ThaoTeacher on Special Assignment, Fresno Unified School District

Victoria DunchResearch Coordinator, San Diego Zoo Global

Viva AsmelashAssociate Director, People Operations, Galileo Learning

Wendy AbshireEducation Program Director, American Meteorological Society

Wendy KoppCEO & Co-founder, Teach For All

Windsor Pesterfied Ed.D.

Youth Code Jam

Zachary R. Wood

Zee Ann Poerio

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