WHEREAS, An educated citizenry serves as the very foundation of our democracy; and

WHEREAS, Today’s teachers mold the minds and train the workforce of the future; and

WHEREAS, Today, we recognize that teachers continue to face significant challenges as their workloads continue to increase due to additional duties being added on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis; and

WHEREAS, Teachers deserve to be honored in the highest regard for their resilience, dedication, and ongoing support they provide to our pupils; and

WHEREAS, No other profession touches as many people with such a long-lasting effect and has the potential to transform lives the way teaching does; and

WHEREAS, Good teaching grows in value and pays dividends far beyond the classroom and will continue to shape future generations to come; and

WHEREAS, California teachers bring a variety of cultural backgrounds which increase the academic performance of pupils of color, including improved reading and mathematics test scores, improved graduation rates, and an increase in pupil aspirations to attend college; and

WHEREAS, California long ago recognized the immeasurable value of our teachers, and the second Wednesday in May has traditionally been recognized as the Day of the Teacher, a special observance that honors teachers and the teaching profession; and

WHEREAS, The Day of the Teacher has been sponsored by the California Teachers Association and the Association of Mexican American Educators and was first recognized in 1982; and

WHEREAS, California has patterned its celebration after the traditional El Día del Maestro festivities observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries; and

WHEREAS, The national Day of the Teacher will be celebrated on May 2, 2023; and

WHEREAS, The Day of the Teacher should be a day for school districts, parents, public officials, and the community to recognize the dedication and commitment of teachers who are educating our children; now, therefore, be it