CNN has just published a lengthy must-read article headlined “Teachers’ lessons in heroism and healing.”

Here’s an excerpt:

“We are rightly taken by the fact that some teachers risked their lives and gave their lives,” said David Steiner, dean of Hunter College’s School of Education and a former New York state education commissioner. “We should just shut up and admire (them).”

Still, he wonders, how long does awe last, and what comes after?

Does the teacher who almost lost her life get sufficient planning time for class? Will a reconstructed building bring resources for an educator to try new curricula? Is there a monetary reward that might entice a low-paid teacher to stay? Will there be counseling to help educators recover from a crisis?

And what about those who can dazzle in the classroom but haven’t faced down a tornado or talked down a gunman? What about those teachers who save children’s lives in quieter ways every day?

“I worry about the answer,” Steiner said. “You shouldn’t have to be a hero to be a respected teacher.”

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I’m adding it to Teachers Putting Children First In Oklahoma.