By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings

Today I muse joyfully on educators, real teachers and honest instructors who have spent years honing their craft, learning the art of solid teaching, instruction, leading young minds to think critically, honestly, ethically.

Today I muse joyfully that those teachers will sit down at a Thanksgiving meal knowing they are working incredibly hard, in incredibly challenging times, in moments that try the souls of even the heartiest and most learned of people.

Today I muse joyfully you might prepare a gift for an educator in your life that will not be a mug but rather a note of thanks, a call to a legislator, a letter to an editor sharing your joy for a teacher, an administrator, a school.  

Today I muse joyfully on gratitude for teachers, for administrators, for paraprofessionals, for custodians, for school board members, for those who have devoted their lives not to profits, but for serving children and young adults, teaching them, celebrating their most wonderful minds and potentials.

Today I muse joyfully on educators. You know who you are, you know who you can be, you know you are worth celebrating, honoring and supporting.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.