MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Sisters, we did it again. Teacher Appreciation Week came in at a record $40,000, which is honestly a real reflection of how much we care, visually.
Each of our 30 teachers received a $5 coffee gift card, presented on its own tiny gold easel beneath three custom balloon arches. The rest of the budget covered the arches, a flower wall, a photographer, a videographer, a drone, matching cream sweatshirts for 60 of us, and a professional content creator, who delivered a stunning 45-second Reel set to Taylor-adjacent music. Go watch it. It’s pinned.
“The gift card is really more of a symbol,” I told the committee. “The real gift is being appreciated. Publicly. On my grid.”
The week opened Monday with a catered breakfast for our volunteer moms. Tuesday was our thank-you walk, where we paraded through the halls clapping while the teachers took attendance. Wednesday was Self-Care Day, with a visiting aesthetician doing lash lifts for the committee in the library. We felt so appreciated.
One second-grade teacher mentioned that what she really hoped for was printer ink. We heard her! Next year’s itinerary now includes an Ink Appreciation Moment, with its own balloon arch.
Planning for next year has already started. The proposed budget is $55,000, and the proposed gift card value is still five. We’re not made of money.