Dear editor,
It is my belief that the foundation of a community is built and influenced by those who care, the individuals that dedicate time and effort toward bettering the future of tomorrow — our kids.
The popular saying, “the children are the future of tomorrow,” couldn’t be more true. In a time of cultural and economic stimulation, the uprising generations who are making their way through our communities today really are our future. The young and expanding minds that surround us are molded by the caring hands of teachers.
When it comes to the West Clermont Local School District, hundreds of teachers from a wide range of grade levels will ultimately leave their mark on literally thousands of children over the years. Whether it’s teaching a child how to read or how to calculate algebraic expressions, the effort it takes to help them learn leaves a long-lasting effect.
As I said before, those individuals from our community who dedicate their time and effort to better their community, are our teachers.
Whether your children attend school, you know kids who do or maybe you are in school yourself, you should know first-hand the dedication that West Clermont teachers show to their community and students. A recent disagreement over salary has stirred up a great deal of conflict in the West Clermont District. Many teachers have experienced hardships in recent years, and the Board of Education has refused to meet their needs by increasing pay even to meet the rising cost of living.
Lately, we’ve seen simple messaging from teachers popping up around the community such as “Respect Me” and “I Support West Clermont Teachers.” These are gaining more and more support for the teachers. As in every situation, what you put into a system is what you get out of it. The lack of morale and support can clearly be seen throughout the district.
As a current student in the West Clermont School District, I can tell you the first-hand effects some teachers have had on my life and educational journey over the past 11 years. A few specific teachers I have encountered have inspired me to choose journalism as a possible future career, encouraging me to express myself through writing and have supported me throughout my whole high school career.
The overwhelming amount of support and encouragement each student in West Clermont receives should be reciprocated to the teachers that have such a positive impact on your very children and fellow peers. I don’t believe you could find a better community of teachers willing to participate in their student’s lives and care for them the way West Clermont does. I just hope our community can do the same for those who have dedicated their lives to pursue a passion for teaching and a love for making our community better.
Sincerely a proud product of West Clermont teaching,
Greta Bach, Class of 2017