Principals' Day + Teacher Appreciation Day

Dr. Kinney of Lakeside Middle School participating in the OK2D dance off

Principals Day - May 1st

Principals are those teachers who decide to become intercessors. Being a principal has everything to do with the management of not only school systems and processes and teachers but also as “The buffer.” They are standing in between the impact of sudden change either through policy, budgets, or systems in order to create safe spaces for students and teachers. This includes implementing teacher support resources and training as well as supportive restorative student services- for hundreds of people on multiple levels. On this principals day, we would like to shout out the principals that have walked alongside us and do the work. Whether through JEDI or mentorship initiatives and collaborations, the principals we have worked with (and others nationwide) became principals because they saw the gaps that needed to be filled not only in the education system on a macro level but also on a micro-level at their school and throughout their community. 

For principals, every day, there is a battle to fight or a fire to put out. And on this day, we honor you for your resilience in the fire and your perseverance through the fight. For without you, schools will not have direction or room for evolution. We thank you. 

Teaching Staff and Principal Merilus at March Middle School during the OK2D tour

Teacher Appreciation Day - May 3rd

While principals are intercessors on a broader, systemic scale - teachers are immediate intercessors and are pivotal in initial student support and encouragement. Teachers are in the unique position to ensure that students not only feel seen but also play a crucial part in shaping students' minds. Even as adults, we can look back and remember how a particular teacher made us feel. What’s interesting about teachers is that they are well known for being underpaid and under-appreciated - which is a part of those systemic barriers that we often speak of. We here at (OTO) would like teachers to understand your impact transcends the individual moments in the classroom. We know that your hands are often tied, or you’re under-supported, and it has more to do with systemic design. We see you doing your best implementing SEL into your lessons while thoroughly getting through subject matter within limited timelines, managing caseloads while grading papers amid structural changes, while completing an infinite amount of training. You all still manage to impact student lives daily and find ways to reignite yourself to do the work in the first place. You see and understand the impact at the micro-level -which is the catalyst for radical, systemic change. We know without a shadow of a doubt that the students we serve are absolutely worth it. We not only honor you, but we also know how blessed we are to have you.

Being a good leader, especially the leader of children, isn’t about having power over others, but instilling power in others -Jessica Bohn (remixed by Nicole Swearingen)