This is one of my favorite times of the year because we are very close to Teacher Appreciation Week!

It all started for us at Chamisa Elementary, everyone going through Becky Sims kindergarten class. When they each got to 4th grade, “Working on the Hill,” was a play done through the musical direction of Kim Letellier, and the help of many staff. It time travels back to our roots, the Ranch School Days and more.

One of the songs was about being Ameri CANs not Ameri CANTs. It is the epitome of life as we know it, at this very moment. So, I can’t help but reflect on teachers and hope to remind folks about Teacher Appreciation Week. A poem, a digital card, an email of appreciation, a scanned in drawing, a delightful meme. A tip of that hat, to those newest teachers, perhaps called Home School teachers that just started a few weeks ago.

This time of year, has me fondly recalling things we did to salute them.  Well this year, I don’t have any skin in the game, as the kids say. Our boys are all in college and ironically all home again. I sobbed harder, each time one left. So, this year I’m off the hook right, nothing to do, no one to acknowledge. Then life changed, in a very dramatic way.

I had an IDEA! I feel it is a really good idea, so I asked a few friends and we’re going to do this year up right. While I hope you celebrate all the teachers or even one teacher, if you like my idea, I hope you will help with mine.

You see, one teacher, one really awesome teacher is retiring this year. She won’t get to see the celebration, the walk up to the end of school, the hugs, the love and the devotion that she deserves to be surrounded by, right up to the end. That teacher is Los Alamos Middle School teacher, Rita Sanchez! Que Bueno, the Spanish teacher that has served or survived, 35 years in public education.

So, Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA), is asking you to help us acknowledge it. You can send us your cards, letters, gifts, photographs, stories and deepest congratulations. We will get the items delivered in a BIG WAY! I am hoping for stories from long ago because she deserves to hear from the students she has served so well. Why me? Why is C’YA taking on the task? Well, Rita was our annual winner of the Community Asset Awards, winning the Spirit of the West award.

We hope you’ll take part, from now until graduation ends. Ask your older kids to do the same and let’s see how far back we can go. We welcome your efforts at Champions of Youth Ambitions, PO Box 4741 White Rock, NM 87547. If you need more information call or text us at 505.695.9139 or email us at cya.org@att.net. Won’t it be grand?