Teacher Appreciation Week

Teachers play a critical role in shaping our children’s futures. But with the reality of gun violence, they are faced with another task: protecting and comforting our students each and every day.

Teachers help educate our youth and shape them into future leaders of our country. But over the years, gun violence, both on and off school premises, has burdened our teachers to focus less on educating and more on their students’ survival, trauma, and grief.

Since the 1999 Columbine massacre, school shootings have skyrocketed: From Parkland and Uvalde to Michigan State, there have been more than 370 school shootings nationwide. At least 199 children, educators, and others have been shot and killed and 425 others will live with injuries for the rest of their lives. For those ‘lucky’ enough to avoid a bullet, the impacts of gun violence can lead to life-long trauma, anxiety, and depression. And while teachers are on the frontlines of keeping children safe in schools, the burden does not end there. Educators, particularly in Black and Brown communities, must often support the needs of students who live in communities disproportionately impacted by America’s gun violence epidemic.

ENOUGH! Our educators deserve better. This Teacher Appreciation Week, give teachers the best gift of all: Strong gun laws that keep our schools and communities safe!

FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW TO TAKE ACTION

1. Download the graphics (below) to create a sign for social media.

I appreciate teachers for...

Support teachers by...

2. Customize your sign by filling in the blanks. Here are some sample messages:

Support teachers by giving us sensible gun laws to keep our students safe; not just flowers and gifts.

Tweet this

Support teachers by banning assault weapons, not books.

Tweet This

Support teachers by putting student's lives ahead of politics and gun lobby profits.

Tweet This

3. Take a photo with your sign and post it on social media.

Tag @bradybuzz, @teachersunify, @AFTunion, @NEAToday, and use #TeacherAppreciationWeek and #TeacherAgainstGunViolence in all of your posts. After you post, ask your friends, family, and loved ones to join you on social media! Encourage your networks to show solidarity with teachers by demanding action to keep communities safe from gun violence.

Thank you for taking action alongside Brady and our partners.

Together, we can help ensure students and educators are thriving in places of learning — not simply surviving. Please continue your advocacy by learning more about Brady’s approaches to reduce gun violence in our schools and communities.