Friend,

If you're a parent, I don't need to tell you: This year gave us a new appreciation for the patience and persistence our teachers bring to the job every day.

Between the ongoing challenge of navigating the pandemic, the task of running a classroom on Zoom, and the stress of seeing our democracy pushed almost to the breaking point, this school year has been incredibly tough, and no doubt our kids have felt it, too.

All the while, our teachers never gave up -- and our kids and communities are better because of it. So today, will you sign the card to say thanks to our teachers for their immense contributions this past year?

While we send words of praise to our teachers, we must recognize that words alone are not sufficient. We also need to provide more tangible support for our teachers so they can flourish and help our kids flourish, too.

We must provide more mentoring and support for teachers who are just starting out, so they are empowered to stay in the profession for the long term. We must recruit more teachers from underrepresented communities, so that more kids can see people who look like themselves running a classroom and holding positions of authority.

And we need to pay them more. The teachers of today are shaping the next generation of voters, workers, parents, and elected leaders. The value of well-trained, well-supported, and well-compensated teachers to our society and our democracy cannot be overstated.

I'll be doing everything I can in Congress to make our country better serve our teachers, so they can better serve our kids. In the meantime, I hope you'll add your name next to mine to thank our teachers for all they do -- this year and every year.

With gratitude,

Dean Phillips