Teachers nationwide celebrated a week of gratitude, treats, and well wishes during Teacher Appreciation Week 2024.

Families and administrators were joined by community partners to wow educators with gifts, activities, and much more throughout the week. The District’s “Wonka” theme, modeled after the cinematic origin story of Willy Wonka (of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), highlighted our teachers as the “Golden ticket to knowledge.” 

“Thank you for showing our students and families how to lay the foundation for happily ever after,” Superintendent Dr. Marie N. Feagins said cheerfully in a video released to teachers. “I’m excited to celebrate you!”

The week kicked off with celebrations at schools. District employees hand-delivered special “Wonka”-themed shirts to each teacher on National Teacher Appreciation Day (Tuesday, May 7), Teachers of the Year from each school were celebrated with a special luncheon, and the week is set to end with an evening under the stars!

As a grand finale, the District organized a drive-in movie showing of "Wonka" for all teachers, and it’s an evening expected to be filled with laughter, popcorn, and the magic of cinema.

Teacher Appreciation Week is held during the first full week of May each year. This year, the occasion takes on a different meaning for MSCS educators; the District announced a $28.4 million investment toward teacher salaries in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Leaders announced two additional steps to the salary schedule for its longest-serving teachers.