This month we are celebrating National Teacher's Week, and I wanted to take a moment to express my support for our amazing educators here on Long Island and Queens.

The magic of teachers is that they can often spot potential in students before kids even see it in themselves.

For me, that teacher was Ms. Weist, and without her, my story never happens.

Ms. Weist taught me in first grade at Walt Whitman Elementary, and she changed my life. She saw in me at an early age what would later become a driving force in my life: the desire to make a difference for others.

She encouraged me to get involved in student government. Like any six year old, I didn't know the difference between student government and the presidency, but with Ms. Weist behind me, I felt confident enough to run. (And yes, this was the first election I'd ever won.)

Without that experience, I never would have run for school board, for legislature, and now for Congress. And all it took was the magic of a teacher. Our teachers' warmth, optimism, kindness, patience, and belief is why kids in our community can do anything in life.

So as we celebrate National Teachers Week, I'm sending a thank you to Ms. Weist and to all our amazing educators. And that's why, when I'm in Congress, you won't find a stronger supporter of educators than me.

Josh