Tennessee is putting its teachers front and center this May. The month-long celebration pegged as Teacher Appreciation Month and part of a broader campaign called the 'Year of Tennessee Teachers', is an initiative announced by the Tennessee Department of Education. During this period, the focus is on just how crucial teachers are in developing the minds of over a million K-12 students across The Volunteer State. Governor Bill Lee championed the proclamation while the department was spotlighting standout educators nominated by their colleagues.

The campaign aims to shine a light on those teachers who are going above and beyond to cater to all students' needs. They will get their due recognition on social media, where their stories will be shared, elevating their work beyond the confines of their respective classrooms, districts, and communities. Celebratory posts will flood social media channels, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10, and notably on Teacher Appreciation Day, May 7.

“Teachers have a significant impact on their students, mentoring and leading them to success in and outside of the classroom,” Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, said in a statement obtained by the Tennessee Department of Education. Reynolds extended personal thanks to all the state’s educators for their “daily passion and dedication” towards fostering student growth and achievements.

While the celebrations ensue online with hashtags #TNSupportsTeachers and #WhyTeachTN, there's tangible support coming from the state's administration as well. Governor Lee along with the Tennessee General Assembly approved a generous package for educators—an additional $125 million towards teacher pay raises as part of their long-term plan to bump the minimum starting salary for teachers to $50,000 by 2027.