WHEREAS, North Carolina’s children are the future of our state, and teachers are essential to the success of that future; and
WHEREAS, teachers open students’ minds to ideas, knowledge, and opportunities and can change the lives of millions of children every day; their work has a lasting impact that extends far beyond the classroom; and
WHEREAS, having an effective teacher is the most important in-school factor for student success; and
WHEREAS, teachers are essential to empowering families and communities to support our children and contribute to the growth and progress of our state; and
WHEREAS, our state is only as strong as our students’ ability to reach their academic potential, an impossible goal without the diligence, patience, and dedication of every teacher in every classroom in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the bipartisan state budget enacted in November 2021 included an average 5 percent salary increase for teachers over two years; and
WHEREAS, educators deserve to be paid like the professionals they are and we must make strong investments in our teachers to secure a strong future for our state for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, we recognize teachers’ countless sacrifices and hours spent planning, counseling, instructing, coaching, evaluating, and caring for their students in and outside the classroom; and
WHEREAS, National Teacher Day was first celebrated by congressional declaration in March of 1980, and was moved and extended to the first full week of May by the National PTA and NEA Representative Assembly in 1985; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina joins in honoring teachers and will continue our commitment to support our teachers and school system today and every day;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 2 – 6, 2022, as “TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK” and May 3, 2022, as “TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.