Giving Thanks for the People Who Make Our Schools Magical

As we move toward Thanksgiving, I keep thinking about the quiet, steady work that happens in every school across this country. It rarely makes headlines. It doesn’t show up in policy briefs. Yet it shapes the lives of children in ways that last far beyond a single school year.

Thanksgiving is a season of gratitude. It invites us to pause and recognize the individuals who pour themselves into the life of a school. When you spend your career inside classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and bus loops, you come to understand something essential. A school becomes a place where students grow because a community of adults chooses, every day, to show up with purpose in order to positively impact lives.

Teachers sit at the heart of that daily transformation. They design experiences that stretch the imagination and sharpen understanding. They read the emotional weather of the classroom and help students navigate their way through challenges. They celebrate victories that may seem small in the moment, but often become turning points in a child’s life. Their creativity, commitment, and compassion shape the rhythm of every school day, and students carry those lessons with them long after they leave the building.

But the heartbeat of a school is larger than one group.

Principals guide the culture. Assistant principals steady the ship. Counselors open doors to a world of possibility. Media specialists become purveyors of wonder. Instructional coaches help teachers stay grounded and supported in their purpose.

And surrounding that core is another group of people who deserve just as much recognition. Bus drivers greet children with the first “good morning” of the day and bring them home safely. Custodians protect the dignity of the building so learning can thrive. Cafeteria workers serve meals that keep students energized and ready to learn.

Groundskeepers maintain the spaces where students play, imagine, and breathe. Office staff keep the entire community connected. Every role carries meaning. Every role touches a child’s life in a different way.

Thanksgiving encourages us to see that clearly. It reminds us that schools work because people work. They sacrifice their time, their heart, and their energy to help students feel seen and supported. When we recognize that, gratitude becomes more than a seasonal gesture. It becomes the foundation of a stronger, more connected community.

So this holiday, I’m encouraging you to notice someone in your school or district who makes a difference. Thank a teacher who pushed your child to grow. Thank a principal who offered steady strength and encouragement is a difficult moment. Thank a custodian who takes pride in the hallways. Thank a cafeteria worker who learns every child’s name. These gestures matter.

To everyone who contributes to the life of a school, you are the reason that learning takes root in the lives of our children. You shape futures in ways that you may never fully see. As we gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving, I hope you carry with you the knowledge that your work truly makes a difference. Your presence matters. And your commitment helps create the kind of schools where children can imagine who they might become.

Thank you for the magic you make, every single day.