Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will recognize more than 23,000 dedicated educators this week, National Teacher Appreciation Week, with events and celebrations across the District. National Teacher Appreciation Week runs through Friday, May 10 and coincides with School Nurse Appreciation Week with celebrations also planned for nurses throughout the week. Earlier this year, 12 CPS teachers were named Golden Apples Excellence in Teaching finalists, more than any other school district in the state. The Excellence in Teaching Award is a highly competitive and prestigious award that honors teachers who have lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities and have significant, positive impacts on their students’ growth and learning. Last week, Alicia Carlisle, one of the five selected CPS winners and a first-grade teacher at Turner Drew Language Academy, was selected as one of 10 finalists in the state to receive a paid sabbatical and $5,000 cash prize. In February, Comfort Agboola, a middle school teacher at Poe Classical on the City’s far south side, was named the sole Illinois 2023-24 recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award and won $25,000. Community members can show support for CPS teachers on social media by using #ThankATeacher or #TheBestAreWithCPS and alumni can share thanks and memories of a teacher by submitting a message that the Children First Fund will share throughout the week on social media.