When budget cuts come along, when raises are a point of discussion, when education is a topic at the dinner table, the focus is on teachers.

While there is no question teachers are the heart and soul of a school building, while there is no debate to the value of a good teacher, teachers do not work alone.

In a school, in any school, there are:

• teacher assistants
• librarians
• deans
• principals
• assistant principals
• counselors
• custodians
• speech therapists
• occupational therapists
• instructional coaches
• directors
• groundskeepers
• maintenance staff
• administrative assistants
• office staff
• managers
• nurses
• literacy specialists
• math specialists
• IT staff
• coaches
• school police
• parent volunteers
• curriculum coordinators
• cafeteria workers — servers & cooks

. . . and this list is not exhaustive.

It takes a village to raise a child.

It also takes a village to educate a child.

When we speak of education, yes teachers are critical, but every adult in a school building has the power to change lives and to be a leader.

So the next time you start discussing a school, the next time there’s a debate on the state of education, take a moment to consider all the adults involved in education. Recognize them. Appreciate them. And most importantly, don’t forget about them.