Teaching today extends far beyond lesson plans and lectures. Educators are balancing academic expectations with student support, long hours outside the classroom and changing relationships with families.
During National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4 through 8, those realities come into sharper focus as schools and communities recognize the work teachers do each day.
The role of a teacher has evolved in recent years, with many educators taking on responsibilities that go beyond instruction. In addition to teaching content, they often serve as mentors, role models and a consistent source of support for students.
For one local teacher, those challenges and rewards are part of daily life.
Ethan Krogman, a social studies teacher at Belmond-Klemme High School, said his path into education was not always clear.
“Honestly, at first I had no ambition in becoming a teacher,” Krogman said.
Originally pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, he said something felt missing until he eventually found his way into teaching, encouraged by family and friends.
Like many educators, Krogman said the most meaningful part of the job comes from the impact he has on students.
He recalled former students reaching out after graduation or stopping him in public to share their successes.
“What never changes in those memorable moments is that there is always a phrase,” Krogman said. “‘Thank you for believing in me and being firm-handed when I was making mistakes.’”
Moments like those reflect what many teachers describe as the most rewarding part of the profession, even as the demands continue to grow.
Burnout is one of the challenges educators face.
“Burnout is the biggest one that I face personally as a teacher,” Krogman said.
He said the work extends well beyond the school day, including planning lessons, grading assignments and supporting students in ways that are not always visible.
Krogman also pointed to changing dynamics between students, teachers and parents. He refers to this as the “Triangle”.
“The 'Triangle, ' as I call it, often has found itself without one of the sides,” he said. “Society has changed from a ‘What can I do to help you?’ to a ‘What can you do for my kid?’”
Despite those challenges, educators often point to students as their primary source of motivation.
For Krogman, that includes students who may rely on school as a place of stability.
“Just to know that school and us teachers within it might be the only good part of their day is a major motivating factor,” he said.
In the classroom, he said engagement plays a key role in helping students connect with the material.
“For myself and as a teacher, I find it better for my students if I am just as engaged in my activities and teaching because that trickles down to the students,” he said.
Teacher Appreciation Week offers a moment to recognize both the challenges and the impact of the profession.
“Most people say, ‘I could never do what you do,’” Krogman said. “Because, well, most people do not want to do what we do. And on some days, I, too, do not feel like I want to do this. That being said, this week reminds me as a teacher that the profession is a noble one, as broken as it may be.”
As schools mark the week, perspectives like Krogman’s highlight a broader reality. Teaching today is complex and demanding but it remains rooted in the belief that the work can make a lasting difference in students’ lives.
“The work I am doing will pave the way for generations in the future,” he said.