Teachers Bring More Than Academics in Time of Tragedy: Parents Talk

Last week, I had the opportunity visit with a few children at the Excelsior Farmers Market. Not surprising, they knew the exact number of days left until summer break.

While many of our kids in Minnesota are eyeing the calendar with anticipation for summer break, I was reminded this week how much we owe our educators.

As parents, we send our children off to school each morning expecting another typical school day until we pick them up.

It becomes a parents worst nightmare when unexpected tragedies and circumstances hit a school – situations that seem to have been all too common nationwide during the 2013-2013 school year.

Yet, time and time again, we hear about educators that put their life on the line to save those students they are charged with teaching.

As news continues to come in following the aftermath of the Oklahoma tornado May 20 that destroyed two elementary schools and reportedly killed and injured many people, stories are being share how the teachers tried to protect their children and comforted them in the aftermath.

"The teacher held their heads, and bricks and everything were falling all over the kids," Moore resident Andrew Wheeler said, according to a ABCnews.com report. His son Gabriel, according to the report, said “his teacher stood with the class the entire time and told them to act as they did in practice drills.” (see May 20 video above). 

In the aftermath, teachers comforted students at Briarwood Elementary as seen in this raw video on NewOK.com.

In a statement the morning after the tornado, President Obama spoke to the nation and those devastated by the disaster, stating in part: "Our gratitude is with the teachers who gave their all to shield their children," according to a Huffington Post report.

In December, several staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary in CT gave their lives to protect their students.

"Many teachers and staff members disregarded their own safety that day to hide and protect the children in their care," said Congressional Medal of Honor Society president Harold Fritz in a statement, according to Newtown Patch. 

As you give your child an extra hug today, send out your thoughts to Oklahoma and share what makes the educators in your child’s life special in comments below.

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