As usual, I’m taking the weekend off for extra Lego time and lots of playing outdoors in the beautiful Colorado sunshine. Since tomorrow is an important anniversary, I decided to observe it today. On May 7, 2008, I began my three years of blogging here as a 5-year-old with a post titled “Denver Parents Want More Successful Schools to Choose From.” (Interestingly, FOX 31 News ran a special story last night about one of the area’s most successful and well-known charter schools, which has grown since 2008: Denver School of Science and Technology.)

Last week the prolific education reform blogger Matthew Tabor posed the question: “What makes you feel old as a teacher or blogger?” I’m not really sure how to answer that, other than I feel kind of old for… well, my age. Time doesn’t really fly when you can stay 5 for this long. Let me tell you.

But what better way to mark this commemorative 3rd anniversary Ed Is Watching post than to give a shout-out to Teacher Appreciation Week — which ends today. For all the arguing I do about the need to improve educator effectiveness in our system, it needs to be repeated clearly from time to time that we have many fine teachers here in Colorado and elsewhere succeeding and excelling in spite of the surrounding system. Three cheers to them and what they do for students!

I close by bringing your attention to an op-ed for Teacher Appreciation Week by Association of American Educators executive director Gary Beckner, who writes:

Union leaders would have you believe that teachers and unions are essentially the same. The fact of the matter is that there are nearly 1 million teachers in America who don’t belong to a union and certainly do not subscribe to the mentality that the union perpetuates.

Teachers deserve to be treated as individual professionals with ideas and experience that can be brought to the policy table. To create and implement meaningful education reform, the true voices of American teachers need to be heard, instead of the outdated, overreaching, politically charged mantras of union bosses. We need to empower teachers to not only have the tools they need to succeed but give them the freedom to make the choice for themselves how to be represented. It is not only important for today’s teachers but the future of a shrinking workforce.

Excellent point. Not only why you need to be aware of the informative Independent Teachers website, but also one of the many reasons I hope to continue education transformer blogging as a 5-year-old for a long time to come. Thanks to my friends in the Education Policy Center. I simply couldn’t do it without you!