Thank a Teacher!

Update: We did it! Together in early 2026, we surprised 185 teachers across three schools and states with letters of gratitude! Thank you to everyone who sat down and wrote a letter – this was a beautiful experiment and experience.

Hey there,

During the 2020 and 2021 school years, I organized a network of folks to write personalized letters of gratitude to each of the 90+ teachers and staff members at Oakland High School and Foss High School here in my city of Tacoma, WA. We were in the middle of lockdowns and it felt like our educator friends needed to feel some community support.

And sure enough – during these two letter-writing gratitude campaigns, I received amazing messages of thanks from surprised teachers as well as from letter-writers about how much it meant to feel a part of something bigger than just ourselves.

Now in 2026, I’m making this invitation to you again.

With the Department of Education being hollowed out and educators everywhere under attack for teaching critical thinking skills, it feels like a good time to send more gratitude to our friends in the classrooms.

This year, there are three schools I’d like to surprise with letters:

  1. Alpac Elementary in Auburn, WA: In late 2025, flooding caused by an atmospheric river massively disrupted the lives of students and teachers at Alpac, covering entire neighborhoods with water. Alpac is the school home to just over 530 students and roughly 70 staff (teachers, office staff, administrators, para educators, etc.)

  2. Douglas Elementary in Tucson, AZ: Located in the heart of Tucson, Douglas is a Title 1 school (meaning it has a high number of low-income students), serves a predominately Hispanic community, and is severely under-resourced by the State of Arizona. Douglas is the school home to just over 500 students and roughly 47 staff. Hat-tip to my friend Claire, who serves as a Reading Interventionist with Douglas.

  3. Sacajawea Middle in Federal Way, WA: Sacajawea is near and dear to my heart as being located just down the road from where I used to teach. A Title 1 school, teachers there are currently navigating significant budget cuts, a high number of students transferring schools mid-year, and a student population of nearly 40% English Language Learners. It is the school home to nearly 650 students and 68 staff.

That’s 185 teachers, administrators, and support staff – a big increase from 2020/2021 – but I think we can do it!

If you’re interested in joining me in sending hand-written notes to these educators, check out the “How it Works” steps below and sign up using the “Sign Up to Write a Letter” button!

And if you have a friend or two who might want to participate, feel free to send them this link and invite them to sign up as well!

Andrew

Sign up to write a letter!

How it Works:

  • Brown envelope with a blank white card inside, surrounded by beige wheat stalks on a white surface.

    Step One: Sign Up to Write a Few Letters!

    Use the Sign Up link above to sign up to write a letter. You’ll be asked for your name, email address, which school you’d like to write to, and how many letters you’d like to write. Even writing just one is amazing! No need to sign up for the entire school!

  • Colorful sticky notes with handwritten names and words, including 'Myra,' 'Chelsea,' 'Jesus,' and 'key'.

    Step Two: Receive Name(s)!

    Within 24 hours, you’ll receive the names of however many staff members you signed up to write to, along with their position at the school, and their school’s mailing address.

  • Person wearing a striped sweater writing on paper with a blue pen on a wooden table, with a coffee mug and closed planner in the background.

    Step Three: Start Writing!

    Now is the fun part. With the name(s) you’ve received, grab some paper/cards and write to the staff member(s) thanking them for all the hard work they’re doing! Here’s an example to work off of if you need inspiration.

  • A collection of colorful envelopes and letters spread out on a lace tablecloth.

    Step Four: Mail Your Letter(s)

    After you’re done writing, go ahead and stamp the envelope(s) and send them off through USPS by March 1st at the latest! (So teachers receive them before Spring Break!)

  • A white card with the handwritten word 'thanks!' in black ink, placed on a dark wooden surface with a black pen beside it.

    Step Five: Thank Yourself!

    This is one small way we can support our teachers and school staff right now. As an educator myself, I promise you these small gestures from the community mean the world. So celebrate!

Sign up to write a letter!