Dear LCMSD Community,

Last week was the California Teachers Association Teacher Appreciation Week, this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and the week of May 21 is Classified Employee Week. Additionally, PTO/A’s have identified specific weeks at Cove, Neil Cummins, and Hall to celebrate staff. Needless to say, there is a lot of appreciation  going on and it is all much deserved and appreciated!

Teachers and staff have a significant impact on the students in our district. I know this because I read all of our district surveys, witness it each and every day, and often hear from students and families about their experiences. I was curious as to what statistics might exist about teacher/staff impact and here is what I found from a compilation of studies:

• The average teacher will impact more than 3,000 students throughout the course of their career.
• 83% of students say a teacher helped improve their confidence and self-esteem.
• 88% of people say their teachers played a significant positive role in their lives.
• 79% of students say they’ve been encouraged to follow their dreams by a teacher.
• 75% of students say they see teachers as mentors and role models.

These stats just scratch the surface on the importance of teachers and school staff. While these numbers are interesting, the stories behind them are even more. One of my favorite questions is, “Tell me about an adult, besides your parents, who you knew during your childhood that made an impact on your life.” What I’ve found is that most people share about a teacher, principal, school staff member, or coach. How would you answer this question? How would your child answer it? These stories and experiences create defining moments in our lives and highlight the importance of teachers and staff.

On behalf of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, thank you teachers and staff for your creativity, inspiration, dedication, and care for our students. LCMSD is an extraordinary place to learn and grow and that is because of the people on our campuses each and every day. 

Thank you PTA/O and parents for making this month special for our teachers and staff. From treats to cards, it all means a lot. Thank you for making our team feel so valued and appreciated. 

With gratitude,

Dr. Brett Geithman

Superintendent

Board of Trustees

Annie Sherman, President

Eric Schmautz, Vice President

Amir Movafaghi, Clerk

Beth Blair

Natalie Medved