Teacher Appreciation Day 2025: How Education Policy Battles Shape Our Gratitude for Educators
May 6, 2025 marks Teacher Appreciation Day which provides an opportunity to admire and recognize the educators who help shape our future. This year’s expressions of appreciation for teachers carry a complex flavor because ongoing political arguments about education policy directly influence teachers’ professional lives. Controversies in education policy around school choice, teacher salaries and curriculum standards extend their reach beyond classrooms to shape societal perceptions of educators. While we celebrate we should examine the effect of political battles on teacher morale and highlight recent legislative actions along with the powerful voice of Ashlie Crosson who won the 2025 U.S. National Teacher of the Year award and advocates for educational reform.
The Political Landscape: A Tug-of-War Over Education
Education policy in 2025 is a battleground. The controversial topic of school choice creates division between supporters of charter schools and voucher programs and those who defend the public education system. Supporters believe school choice gives parents more control over their children’s education while opponents who include numerous teachers state these programs divert essential funding from public schools resulting in overworked educators. Tensions increased as Trump administration efforts to dismantle the Department of Education joined Project 2025 plans to boost private school funding. Educators find themselves trapped between competing interests while their professional responsibilities face increased scrutiny during budgetary reallocations.
Teacher pay remains another flashpoint. Although both parties support teacher pay raises proposals generally come with additional requirements. The LEARNS Act in Arkansas received support from Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders who pledged increased starting salaries for teachers but attached conditions including broader school choice options and prohibitions on critical race theory. The trade-offs between funding and teaching conditions make educators cautious because their morale depends both on salary and their ability to operate independently. The National Education Association (NEA) leads teachers’ unions in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions but they face accusations of obstructing educational reform.
Curriculum standards also spark heated debates. Educational constraints on race, gender, and historical topics accused of “indoctrination” by critics restrict teachers from presenting students with multiple viewpoints. Teachers in Pennsylvania like Ashlie Crosson work within educational restrictions to promote critical thinking which demands considerable resilience from educators. Teacher Appreciation Day celebrations show us that recognizing our educators requires us to tackle their professional obstacles.
Legislative Moves: Promises and Pitfalls
Recent legislative actions embody a dual nature of optimism and complexity. Delaware proposed a 9% increase in teacher salaries for 2023 to address wage disparities with states such as Pennsylvania where teachers earned $71,479 on average between 2020 and 2021.The American Teacher Act was introduced by Representatives Frederica Wilson and Jamaal Bowman to motivate states to establish a teacher salary minimum of $60,000. Despite its current blockage, the legislation demonstrates an expanding acknowledgement of educators’ value. The merit-based pay plans proposed by Oklahoma that link raises to student performance create concerns for educators who believe subjective evaluation systems could damage collaborative efforts.
Union advocacy has also driven change. The NEA represents 3 million members who advocate for greater school funding alongside student loan debt relief because teachers struggle under loan burdens. Despite union-supported initiatives to enhance teacher protections, Arkansas’s decision to end mandatory pay scales has drawn criticism because opponents believe this undermines job security. These legislative changes inspire hope yet frequently make teachers feel manipulated in political maneuvers which diminishes their morale as they wait for real support.
Ashlie Crosson: A Voice for Teachers and Reform
Ashlie Crosson serves as the central figure of Teacher Appreciation Day 2025 after being honored as the 2025 U.S. National Teacher of the Year. Crosson serves as an English teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania and exemplifies the commitment we honor. The path Ashlie Crosson traveled from being a first-generation college student who drew inspiration from her teachers to becoming a 14-year veteran educator who shapes young minds reaches across diverse audiences. Through her teaching of Advanced Placement language courses as well as journalism and her unique “Survival Stories” program Crosson engages students with worldwide topics while building their ability to empathize and think critically.
Crosson’s advocacy extends beyond the classroom. When she became a Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms fellow she redesigned her curriculum to focus on global citizenship even as debates about appropriate content persisted. The school journalism program which she revitalized through the creation of the Lewistown Sentinel and The PawPrint has empowered students who now pursue careers in media. The National Teacher of the Year title enables Crosson to spend her year working as an ambassador who provides policy advice through the Council of Chief State School Officers. Her focus? Crosson will work to strengthen teachers’ voices while promoting educational policies that focus on student requirements before political motives.
During her appearance on CBS Mornings Crosson spoke about changes in national education policy and stated that student needs remain the central focus within her classroom instruction. The work of Crosson demonstrates that our appreciation for teachers must be converted into policies that provide them with empowerment.
Public policy determines teacher appreciation levels through its impact on morale.The 2023 survey showed 86% of public schools experienced difficulties with teacher recruitment due to insufficient salaries and a shortage of qualified applicants. When raises depend on performance evaluations or when curriculum content faces restrictions, educators experience increased burnout because they feel their work is undervalued. Student loan forgiveness programs launched by the Biden administration helped more than 450,000 public service workers including teachers thus providing relief which improved their morale. Teacher Appreciation Day becomes a litmus test: Do our expressions of gratitude reflect the actual policy support that educators need?
Crosson’s story highlights this tension. Her enthusiasm for teaching stands out but she operates within a system dominated by policy discussions that take precedence over student-centered teaching. Educators like her want concrete improvements which include fair compensation and manageable workloads along with the ability to teach according to their true teaching style. Our May 6 celebrations must transform gratitude into active advocacy for needed changes by recognizing the ongoing struggles teachers face.
A Viral Call to Action
Teacher Appreciation Day 2025 serves as both an emotional event and an opportunity to begin substantial change. Linking our gratitude to crucial education topics such as school choice, teacher pay and curriculum disputes can start meaningful dialogues among education supporters, legislators and families.
References
Google Teacher Appreciation Week 2025: The importance of teaching – blog.google
Meet Ashlie Crosson, the 2025 National Teacher of the Year | NEA – www.nea.org
Ashlie Crosson named 2025 National Teacher of the Year – CBS News – www.cbsnews.com
10 Education and Work Issues at Stake in the 2024 Election – www.newamerica.org
The National Teacher of the Year Finalists Spotlight Literacy’s Power – www.edweek.org
Teacher Pay Raise Proposals Are Gaining Bipartisan Support. What’s in Them? – www.edweek.org
When will the US presidential candidates talk about teachers? – www.brookings.edu
National Teacher Of Year Named As PA Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor | Harrisburg Daily Voice – dailyvoice.com
CORRECTION: Pennsylvania English Teacher Named 2025 National Teacher of the Year | National | union-bulletin.com – www.union-bulletin.com
A Proclamation on National Teacher Appreciation Day and National Teacher Appreciation Week, 2023 | The White House – bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov
National Teacher of the Year – Wikipedia – en.wikipedia.org
Congratulations to the 2025 U.S. National Teacher of the Year, Ashlie Crosson! – YouTube – www.youtube.com
