Andersen teachers honored during National Teacher Appreciation Week Published May 11, 2009 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Andersen Elementary and Middle schools joined together with schools around the country to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week May 3 through May 9. Teacher Appreciation Week encourages all citizens to show their appreciation to teachers and offers the opportunity for everyone to reaffirm their commitment to parent-teacher partnerships. Worldwide, Department of Defense Education Activity schools honored more than 8,000 teachers serving military students and families. "National Teacher Appreciation Week gives us an opportunity to recognize teachers for their contributions and lets them know how truly important they are to everyone they come in contact with," said William Hall, Andersen Middle School principal. The week-long observance traces its origins to the mid-1940s when Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and educational leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Among those leaders was First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who, in 1953, persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day. The National Education Association lobbied Congress to create a national day celebrating teachers. In 1980, such a day was observed for that year only. Efforts continued to observe the first Tuesday in March as National Teacher Day until 1985, when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May.