Teacher of the Week

So, I just got back from my second Teacher of the Week presentation. Each Friday we send someone to the presentation where they meet up with the Washington State Dairy Princess and a radio “talent” from Star 101.5 FM to surprise the winning teacher. The kids get milk and cookies and bags of goodies – they love it! The teacher gets gifts and a plaque from Applebee’s, as well as a $100 check from Verity Credit Union. We present them with one of those giant foam-board checks so that it looks super impressive.

Today it was a fourth grade classroom at a Catholic school. After the teacher was presented with all his gifts, the kids started chanting “Mr. Lacktrup rocks” over and over again. They were absolutely psyched. Star provided all the kids with T-shirts, which they put on over their uniforms. Then they posed for pictures, like one big happy family. Teachers from other classrooms even stopped by to sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”.

It was a great way to end the week. I think every workplace should have a celebration on Friday afternoons. People should bring their kids and pets. There should be music, dancing and food. We should decorate with streamers and balloons. Then, after we come down from our sugar highs we can go back to filling out our expense reports and returning sales calls.