Over the past five years, I've had the wonderful good fortune of working with the teachers and administrators of Stafford County.
Because the week of May 5-9 is set aside as Teacher Appreciation Week, it's my pleasure to extend my public thanks to this very special group of professionals.
Their work is done quietly, away from the headlines, away from the applause, and away from the pomp so often associated with celebrity.
And yet their passion for our children is clear.
It is clear with each child who has his or her mind opened to the possibilities of the world. It is clear with each spark of creativity they instill, each flash of brilliance that is nurtured, and each closed door that is quietly unlocked.
Thousands of tomorrows are touched by their skills, and yet a thousand thanks are not enough.
Let me be the first this week to say "thank you," and to say that in Stafford County, our teachers don't just open books; they open minds.
Dianna L. Flett
Stafford
The writer is president of the Margaret Brent Elementary PTO.