EAGLE, Colorado - Eagle County Schools is joining thousands of communities across the country in celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, May 7-11.

"We have a large amount of quantitative statistical data showing that teachers in Eagle County are a cut above what's in other schools and ECS teachers get tremendous growth out of students," said Dr. Sandra Smyser, Eagle County Schools superintendent. "But that's not how I know we have great teachers. I know we have great teachers when I see kids running into schools during the year and hanging around the building all summer, wanting to get back inside. I know we have great teachers when I see kids on graduation day, in that bittersweet moment of hope for the future and knowing their time with some amazing teachers is coming to an end. I know we have great teachers because parents in our community hand the most precious thing in the world to them over to our schools, as they know our teachers love their kids just as much as the parents do."