A fitting tribute
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ANR
They teach and mold our children.
That simple sentence says it all when it comes to the significant role our local educators play. These men and women have a tremendous impact on the youth of Hamilton County, and therefore on its future.
The News-Register proudly tips its hat to educators at Aurora, Hampton, Giltner and High Plains schools this week as part of our annual workforce recognition edition. Especially during these times of teacher shortages and workforce turnover, we wanted to shine the spotlight on long-term educators, folks who have been part of Husky, Hawk, Hornet and Storm nations for 20 years or more.
Veteran employees on the staff are incredibly helpful to any business, but in the field of education that voice of experience has become truly invaluable. There has been so much change in what teachers and administrators are responsible for over the years, and having people in the district who have earned the community’s trust and understand the curriculum and culture of their school makes all the difference in the world.
This week’s edition includes stories featuring long-term educators at each of the four local districts, chosen at random. They all had their own stories and perspectives to share, but one common denominator is their multi-generational sense of connection. When you start seeing children in your classroom whose parents you taught when they were kids, they all agree, it creates an unmistakable sense of family. That’s powerful.
This ANR project has taken a number of different approaches over the years, featuring husband/wife co-owners; then and now -- comparing today’s work environment with yesteryear; hiring for and working the night shift; the benefits military veterans bring to their jobs; the millennial generation perspective; working remote; and last year the challenge of hiring and retaining quality workers in a growing workforce shortage. There are so many different aspects of the workforce it’s not hard to find a tale worth telling.
Ask any entrepreneur, corporate executive or local manager what makes or breaks the bottom line and you’ll get the same answer no matter what the industry, current economic climate or location. It’s the people, the boots on the ground workforce, that gets things done.
The hard-working men and women who teach our children, turn the soil, manage the store, fix our computers and in various ways keep the engine of Hamilton County humming along are indeed the backbone of our community, state and nation. It’s fitting and oh so important to tip the hat once in a while to the local workforce, which we’re proud to do with this week’s special edition.
The News-Register’s workforce salute also recognizes where your friends and neighbors go to work every day. We think you’ll enjoy scanning through the many staff photos from local businesses, connecting the dots on who is behind the scenes of Hamilton County’s world of business and education.
-- Kurt Johnson
