As spring blooms and the school year winds down, a heartfelt celebration occurs across the nation: Teacher Appreciation Week. This special time, typically observed in the first full week of May, is dedicated to recognizing and honoring teachers and everything they do for students and communities. It’s a moment for students, parents, and the school faculty to reflect on the significant role educators play in shaping young minds, fostering creativity, and showing a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
Mrs. Molnar, a 7th-grade social studies teacher, has devoted herself to going beyond just teaching. She makes it a point to connect with her students individually, recognizing that many face personal challenges outside the classroom. She creates a welcoming environment, trusting that students feel safe to express their thoughts and emotions. Her classroom allows students to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas, enhancing their social awareness and empathy.
“I became a teacher because I hoped to change the lives of kids. Specifically, inner-city, underprivileged kids. Kids who were born into circumstances with the odds stacked against them. Books written by Jonathan Kozol (Death at an Early Age and Savage Inequalities) and Alex Kotlowitz (There Are No Children Here) were hugely influential, impactful, and set me down the path of teaching,” said Heather Molnar.
For Mrs. Molnar, teaching is not just a job, it’s a calling. Her commitment to helping students goes beyond academics; she nurtures their growth as informed, compassionate individuals ready to engage with the world around them. She believes that education, especially in social studies, is about equipping the next generation with the tools they need to advocate for themselves and their communities.
“Being with kids, sharing our lives together, learning from and teaching one another. There is no one who has it better than I do. I marvel every day at my great fortune of spending a lifetime getting to know the most talented, insightful, funny, touching, compassionate, determined, dedicated people on Earth. Someone once told me that I was ‘born to do this.’ I think they may be right,” said Molnar.
Mrs. Molnar embodies the spirit of what it means to be an educator: passionate, dedicated, and deeply invested in the futures of her students. Through her efforts, she continues to inspire countless young minds, proving that the heart of teaching lies in the unwavering support and encouragement shown to every student who enters her classroom.
