We talk a lot about education on this blog, so naturally our focus often turns to teachers.

“Access to quality teachers is critical for all students,” Sara Martinez Tucker of the National Math & Science Initiative wrote in this space last year. “Exceptional teachers believe in us, keep us stimulated and push us to expect more of ourselves.”

This deep respect for teachers explains ExxonMobil’s sponsorship of programs that support them.  And our belief in the importance of teachers to student achievement is why we are particularly focused on supporting teachers of science, technology, engineering and math – skills that are critical to our nation’s future.

Take our sponsorship of the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers’ Academy.  Now in its 10th year, this is a camp where elementary school teachers learn fun and engaging ways to teach math and science.  Nominations currently are open. If you know a deserving teacher who might benefit from attending this one-week, all-expense-paid program, visit sendmyteacher.com.

We established a similar program with the late Sally Ride to train math and science teachers in approaches to help increase student interest in careers in the STEM subjects. We’re proud that one feature of the Sally Ride Academy is the focus on gender-equity training to ensure that girls are encouraged to follow their interest in those fields.

Meanwhile, the National Math and Science Initiative – which ExxonMobil helped launch – has a program called UTeach that encourages math and science undergrads to go into teaching.  Teacher training is also a critical success factor to NMSI’s College Readiness Program in more than 500 schools across the country.

These are examples of the support we give teachers. But sometimes it’s important to step back and just say thanks for all our teachers do to spark interest in learning and motivate students.

So in recognition of this year’s Teacher Appreciation Day, all of us at ExxonMobil would simply like to say, “Thank you.”

I’ve embedded a short video below. Feel free to share it. But more importantly, thank some teachers today for their contribution to a brighter tomorrow.

(Click here if video won’t play.)