The Unsung Heroes of Teacher’s Day: Early Years Educators

The staffroom was buzzing on Teacher’s Day morning. Bouquets, chocolates, and colourful cards filled every table. Older children walked in proudly, handing their teachers carefully wrapped gifts.

Surekha, the chemistry teacher, was surrounded by her high school students, each one eager to thank her. She smiled warmly, her desk overflowing with flowers, notes, and chocolates.

In another corner, Ramya, the UKG teacher, quietly tied up her hair and sipped her tea. Her tiny students had come in that morning with nothing but bright smiles and messy hugs. They were too young to plan surprises, too small to buy gifts, and their parents hadn’t thought of sending tokens either. Her desk sat empty.

It wasn’t about the gifts, Ramya knew that. But as she glanced around the staffroom, watching her colleagues unwrap yet another card or box of sweets, a small ache settled in her heart.

After all, she was the one who held trembling little hands on the first day of school, wiped away tears, and celebrated the first wobbly attempts at writing the alphabet. Her work was the foundation on which every later achievement stood. Yet, in moments like this, it felt invisible.

As one teacher once said, “By the time students reach high school, they can write essays — but they forget the person who first taught them to hold a pencil.”

This Teacher’s Day, let’s not forget the Ramyas in our schools. A scribbled drawing, a handmade card, or even a simple note from parents can mean the world.

Because when early years teachers feel valued, they bring even more joy, patience, and creativity into their classrooms. And when they are overlooked, we risk dimming the very spark that sets learning in motion.

At Teacher360, we believe every teacher — from the first guiding hand in preschool to the mentors in senior classes — deserves to feel honoured. This Teacher’s Day, let’s remind ourselves: a child’s first teacher is not just shaping a class — she’s shaping a life.