One of the first people to ever call out the gift of leadership in me was Miss Lynda Wessel. I was a bit of a mess coming out of 8th grade and entering high school, and my life could easily have taken a turn toward a path of destructive behavior. But Miss Wessel saw something in me I didn't know was there. She saw how I was using my leadership influence negatively, and she pulled me into a leadership cohort my first week of high school. I had no idea what it was or why she chose me among a few others--but those next few semesters would change my life.

Miss Wessel taught me about event planning, leading a meeting, making decisions, learning from failures, influencing when you aren't in charge, recruiting volunteers and so much more. Through her advocacy and guidance, she helped me grow in my confidence and competence all through high school. By my junior year, I was voted by my peers as president of my class, and the following year as president of the student body. 

Teachers are amazing. They work long hours for low pay (one in five have second jobs to make ends meet) and little recognition in a room of humans that often mistreat and verbally abuse them. They may not see a pay-off for their work with some kids until many years later, if ever, yet they keep coming back to work day after day. Many teachers put up with unrealistic expectations placed on them by politicians or government wonks who have never spent a day leading in the classroom. They are often under-resourced and pay out-of-pocket to buy supplies or decorate their rooms.

I am so grateful for Miss Wessel, along with the sacrificial work of scores of other teachers in my life and those of my kids. To name a few...

• Miss Klimek pulled me onto a traveling singing group to represent our school even though I couldn't sing. She let me share my story as a 16-year old around central Iowa.

• Mr. Bucholtz taught me how math and algebra actually mattered in day-to-day life. He would constantly tell stories of his life in the Marine Corp to bring the work alive.

• Miss Kuschel treated me and my classmates like adults, and thus we started acting like adults. She helped prepare me for life after high school.

• Mrs. Crawford helped Heather (our oldest daughter, now 31 years old) through the hardest parts of math in middle school. Mrs. Crawford didn't know it -- but she was laying the groundwork for Heather to start her own financial coaching company. 

• Mrs. Silvernail helped Megan navigate friendships and encouraged her to be who she was meant to be (which we LOVE so much); Mrs. Suddarth was a huge advocate for Hunter's potential, especially with math, which resulted in him becoming a mechanical engineer; and Mr. Prahl treated TK like an adult--he was a theater teacher who demanded excellence but was still gracious--and inspired TK to major in theater at Baylor University.

Has your life (or your kids) also been forever changed by the impact of a teacher? Send them a note about the impact they've had on your life. Don't stop there--find a local teacher who is making a difference and give them a gift card, or money toward school supplies, or better yet--offer to volunteer in their classroom. 

During this Teacher Appreciation Week...let's find a way to return the favor in a small way for all that teachers have poured in our lives.