An Open Letter to Educators: Thank You

As another school year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to say something that often gets lost amid report cards, testing schedules, summer plans, and end-of-year celebrations:

Thank you.

Thank you to the teachers who arrived early, stayed late, and spent countless hours preparing lessons, grading assignments, answering emails, and finding new ways to engage students. Thank you to the school librarians who carefully curated collections, recommended books, taught research skills, and helped students discover stories that made them feel seen, understood, challenged, and inspired. Thank you to the reading coaches, counselors, paraprofessionals, administrators, and support staff who worked every day to create learning environments where students could grow.

As parents, we see more than you may realize. We see the bulletin boards that appeared overnight. We see the libraries built book by book with every student in mind. We see the lesson plans designed to reach students with different interests, abilities, and learning styles. We see the emails sent after hours and the supplies purchased out of your own pockets.

Most importantly, we see the impact you have on our children.

Long after students forget the details of a particular worksheet or test, they remember the educator who believed in them. They remember the teacher who noticed they were struggling. They remember the librarian who helped them find the perfect book. They remember the adult who made them feel welcome, capable, and valued. Those moments matter. They matter more than data points and test scores. They matter more than political debates and social media arguments. They matter because they help shape the people our children become.

In recent years, however, your work has become increasingly difficult. Educators have found themselves at the center of heated public debates over curriculum, library books, and access to information. They have faced unprecedented scrutiny and have been asked to navigate shifting policies, changing expectations, and intense public attention while continuing to do what they have always done: educate students.

For many of you, the simple act of recommending a book has become more complicated than it should be. The shelves you carefully built have been questioned. The professional expertise you spent years developing has been challenged. The books you selected to support learning, foster empathy, and encourage curiosity have become subjects of controversy.

Yet despite these challenges, you continue showing up. You continue helping students learn to read critically. You continue teaching them how to evaluate sources, ask thoughtful questions, and engage with ideas. You continue encouraging them to explore perspectives beyond their own. You continue helping them become informed citizens and lifelong learners.

That work is essential.

The freedom to read is often discussed as an abstract principle, but in schools, it becomes something much more tangible. It is the student who discovers a love of reading because a librarian placed the right book in their hands. It is the struggling reader who finally finds a story that captures their attention. It is the teenager who learns they are not alone because they see a piece of themselves reflected in a book. It is the student who encounters a perspective they have never considered before and develops greater empathy as a result. It is the child who learns that books are not simply tools for completing assignments but are windows into other lives, mirrors reflecting our own experiences, and doors to new possibilities.

Every day, educators help make those moments possible. You understand something that many people forget: reading is not merely about decoding words on a page. Reading is about building knowledge, developing critical thinking skills, expanding imagination, and preparing young people to participate fully in society. That is why access to books matters. And that is why your work matters.

We know that many of you have felt discouraged. We know there have been moments when it seemed as though your dedication and expertise were being overshadowed by misinformation, political rhetoric, or public criticism. We know some of you have wondered whether the work is worth it.

Please know there are countless parents who appreciate what you do. There are parents who trust your professionalism. There are parents who recognize the care and thoughtfulness you bring to your work. There are parents who understand education is strongest when students have access to a broad range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives. There are parents who value libraries, literature, and intellectual freedom. And there are parents who are grateful that you continue to stand on the front lines of these conversations with grace, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to students.

The freedom to read is not protected by organizations alone. It is protected every day by school leaders who believe students deserve opportunities to learn, explore, question, and grow. It is protected by librarians who continue recommending books despite criticism. It is protected by teachers who encourage thoughtful discussion rather than easy answers. It is protected by all education professionals who trust students to think, learn, and engage with the world around them.

These acts may not always make headlines, but they matter profoundly. They help create schools where curiosity is encouraged instead of feared. They help create classrooms where learning remains the primary goal. They help create communities where young people can develop the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world.

As you head into a well-deserved summer break, we hope you take time to rest and recharge. We hope you celebrate the countless lives you have touched this year, even if you never fully see the results of your efforts. The student who found confidence because of your encouragement, the reluctant reader who became an enthusiastic one, the child who felt understood after finding the right book, and the young person who learned to think critically and ask meaningful questions are all part of your legacy. The impact of those moments extends far beyond a single school year.

From all of us who believe in education, libraries, literacy, and the freedom to read, thank you. Thank you for your service to students, your commitment to learning, your expertise, and your courage. Thank you for helping build a future where curiosity is celebrated, knowledge is valued, and every child has the opportunity to discover the life-changing power of books.

With gratitude,

Parents Across the United States Who Believe in the Freedom to Read