Last fall I wrote about cleaning out my late parent’s home and finding an overdue library book. I also discovered my first report card … from Perry Kay Nursery School (the afternoon session).

One comment that was touching read, “Jamie is always interested in any of our art projects or activities. He seems very alert and has a long interest level. Jamie has good sentence structure and speaks clearly.”I was 4! I don’t remember a second of the program. But a huge part of me owes those influential teachers.

I gather a huge number of recipients of this email have read about the lack of respect for teachers in our society. Research by García, Kraft, & Schwartz (2022), shows that teachers’ sense of a greater decline in respect for their work and increasing demands on their time, emotional energy, and well-being (alongside little additional compensation) are leading to a teacher recruitment and retention crisis.

At SMZ we talk about EiE. It’s a program from our Michigan Lottery client called Excellence in Education. And I’m so proud we are part of this program that recognizes and celebrates the magical work of Michigan public school teachers. Many more of them deserve respect and recognition, and so few of them deserve the vitriol they receive.

One last comment on my nursery school report, “Jamie does not seem to tire easily.”

I hope you find that true of me and the team at SMZ as we proudly live our company values: DO RIGHT. DO MORE. DO GOOD.