Jesse Hargrove, a public school educator for more than 20 years, now serves as president of the Maine Education Association, a professional association and union representing more than 23,000 educators.

This week, Maine joined the nation in celebrating American Education Week, a time to honor the school employees who make our students and schools stronger. Public education is built on teamwork, and it takes many hands to help students succeed.

Each day, thousands of school employees keep our classrooms and communities running — from welcoming students onto buses and into classrooms to preparing nutritious meals. Their work is woven into every part of the school day and supports the learning of more than 170,000 students across the state.

The work of public school educators and staff strengthens the heart of every community, and in my role as a classroom teacher and now as Maine Education Association president, I’ve seen the impact of their dedication firsthand.

I was awed by the program at Mount Desert Island High School incorporating artificial intelligence and maker spaces to foster student creativity, inspired by the rich discussions in Appleton Village School while students analyzed Edgar Allen Poe’s “A Telltale Heart” and intrigued by the biomedical program at Portland Arts and Technology High School that included a variety of biological phenomenon and artifacts.

These everyday heroes do far more than teach. They show up each day to meet students’ basic needs — serving hot meals, greeting children by name, remembering birthdays and ensuring safety and care from the moment they step on the bus. They do it all quietly, without expectation of recognition, because they are deeply committed to their work and their students.

Over the last month I was reminded once again how vital public schools are to our
communities. When uncertainty arose around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leaving families at risk of losing vital support they rely on to put meals on the table, educators and schools acted without hesitation.

Within days, fourth graders at River View Community School organized a food drive for their school pantry, students in the Key Club at Brewer High School collected 500 pounds of food to donate to a local food pantry and the Medway Middle School student council opened a school food pantry.

This was the case across the state as schools and educators also showed up to organize drives, open school pantries and backpack programs and plan community dinners, all to ensure no child went hungry. That’s the power of public education — it’s a steady lifeline for families when they need it most.

Public education is the foundation of our democracy, and it thrives when we all take part. Showing appreciation can be as simple as recognizing the lasting impact educators have on our communities. But as we wind down American Education Week and move into this season of gratitude, I encourage you to turn your appreciation into action.

Show up for a school play, cheer on students at a sporting event, attend your local school board meeting or help support your local school budget. Whether you have children in the school system or not, these are all opportunities to strengthen community connections that make our towns vibrant. Behind every play, concert, game and meeting are the dedicated school employees who make these experiences possible.

The most meaningful investment we can make is in our children and that begins with supporting the people who show up for them every day. I invite you to pause and recognize these local heroes who keep our schools running. From classroom teachers and education support professionals (ESPs) to bus drivers, food service, custodial and office staff — every role is vital to student success.

Public schools remain one of our communities’ greatest assets, and when we invest in them, we invest in the future of Maine.