It’s Teacher Appreciation Day, and boy could they use some love. It’s tough times for teachers these days. From Detroit to D.C. to Los Angeles, teachers are in the middle of a schizophrenic school reform debate that both valorizes and shames them, while saddling them with all the blame for the nation’s education woes.

We’re going to take a break from that today while we thank the tireless, courageous teachers in our lives who’ve educated us and nurtured our minds and hearts.

I, for one, am taking today to thank Elizabeth Hubbard and Sarah Brant, two educators with San Francisco’s Peer Resources program whom I was fortunate to meet back when I was a lonely high school student hungry for information and friendship and community. It was 2003, and the U.S. was headed to war, and nothing made any sense. There were mass protests in the city every month running up to that March 19 announcement. Something was happening outside on the streets that spoke to the anger I felt, but in Elizabeth and Sarah’s classroom, I became comfortable with my discomfort. They encouraged me to ask questions and keep demanding answers, and because of them, I became curious enough about the world that I started reading poetry, and history and literature to try to make sense of the perverse vulgarities of war.

I took part in my first walkout that year to protest the war and I haven’t stopped marching, or asking questions, since. Thanks, Sarah and Elizabeth. 

Is there a life-changing teacher you want to appreciate today? Feel free to share your love in the comments. We’re ending the day as often as possible by celebrating love. We welcome your ideas for posts. Send suggestions to [email protected], and be sure to put Celebrate Love in the subject line. You can send links to videos, graphics, photos, quotes, whatever. Or just chime in to the comments below and we’ll find you. Be sure to let us know you’ve got the rights to share any media you send.

To see other Love posts visit our Celebrate Love page.