An open letter of thanks from our Elected Mayor to our teaching heroes

Press release: An abstract view of the Council crest

Dear teachers, support staff, and pre-school workers

As our children continue to face unprecedented disruption in their daily lives, I’d like to take a moment to say how incredibly proud and grateful I am for your efforts during the pandemic. 

As a former headteacher, I am very aware of how difficult and demanding the job of a teacher can be even under normal circumstances.  

Teaching is so much more than a job. And that goes to for all those supporting teaching staff and caring for youngsters before they get to school.

Teachers train young minds to explore, question, and investigate. They equip our young people with the skills they will need throughout their lives and ensure that knowledge is preserved and passed on to future generations. 

There is no guidebook for how to teach in the middle of a global pandemic but your dedication to your students has shone brightly over the last 12 months.

You’ve had to adapt quickly to entirely new ways of teaching, moving from the classroom to online learning; planning and teaching lessons remotely while juggling your own personal challenges and family lives. 

You’ve made our schools safe by getting to grips with some incredibly complicated health and safety requirements. 

You’ve supported families and communities.

You’ve stayed focussed on high quality teaching and learning. 

You’ve been a familiar and reassuring presence in the lives of children and young people trying to make sense of a confusing new reality, and this has brought a measure of structure and routine for students whose young lives have been turned upside down. 

I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say thank you to all our teachers and our support staff, headteachers, pre-school and nursery workers, and our own school improvement service staff as well.  

We will get through this together. 

Your professionalism, dedication and support during these difficult times will never be forgotten.

Norma Redfearn CBE, North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor