Teacher Appreciation Week was celebrated in May, but a recent opinion column said educator support should not be limited to one month.

Teachers need strong support, as they are very instrumental in student achievement. "When it comes to student performance on reading and math tests, a teacher is estimated to have two to three times the impact of any other school factor," revealed a Rand Corporation study.

Yet today's educators face countless obstacles, some of which include decreasing job security, low wages, shifting demands, lack of respect, testing pressure and lack of classroom support. So said column authors Gene A. Budig, past president and chancellor of Illinois State University and Alan Heaps, a former vice president of the College Board in New York City.

"In the 21st century, to succeed in life you need two things, education and confidence," said Budwig and Heaps. "No one can achieve this without good teachers."

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Article by Navindra Persaud, EducationWorld contributor.