WOODBURY — The gym pulses with energy, a sea of red flooding the bleachers as students scream and stomp their feet. The red-out pep rally, the biggest event of the school year, is in full swing.
At center court, social studies teacher Kyle Brennan holds the microphone, voice booming over the cheers.
“LET ME HEAR YOU, NONNEWAUG!” he shouts, fueling the crowd’s energy. The walls shake with excitement, students clapping and screaming. This is what school spirit looks like.
Fast forward to his classroom, and the energy is gone.
The scene couldn’t be more different. The only sound is the rhythmic tapping of fingers on Chromebook keyboards. Brennan stands at the front, trying to engage his students, but their eyes are glued to their screens. The enthusiasm from the gym is nowhere to be found here.
This is the reality for many teachers, the ones who pour time into lessons, coach teams, run clubs, and fuel school spirit, their efforts unnoticed.
Brennan is more than just a social studies teacher. He advises the Chief Advocate and Quill and Scroll Honor Society, runs Cornhole Club, coaches baseball, is an athletic site director, and more.
“You have to come to the realization when you’re a teacher that you can’t do the job to feel appreciated all the time,” Brennan says. “A lot of kids are dealing with their own things, but I don’t think they realize how much time and energy their teachers put into the school.”
He isn’t alone in that feeling. Teachers at Nonnewaug take on more than just their classroom duties; they run multiple extracurriculars, and they aren’t appreciated enough for it.
Joshua Kornblut, an integrated science teacher, advises Student Council and coaches the JV boys soccer team. Conor Gereg, an English teacher, runs Literary Club and coaches the Unified Buddies program. Toby Denman, biology teacher, has coached soccer, basketball and baseball.
Despite their dedication, there are moments that make teachers wonder if students notice, or even care.
“I feel appreciated often, but have I ever felt underappreciated? Sure,” Kornblut admits. “I like to go out of my way to help support all my students. When they don’t listen or talk over you, even small signs of disrespect can make you feel like your efforts don’t matter.”
Denman doesn’t see it as outright ingratitude, but more of a disconnect.
“The amount of planning that goes into creating valuable learning opportunities is extensive,” he said. “When students don’t complete things and then are confused about why they don’t understand, it’s not active underappreciation, but it does devalue the process.”
Teachers don’t expect daily praise, but it can be disheartening when their efforts seem invisible. Kornblut enjoys supporting his students beyond the classroom, but says small acts of disrespect, like talking over him, can make a teacher feel underappreciated.
Brennan, a champion of school spirit, believes students should appreciate high school while they’re in it. Kornblut shares that mindset, saying that he loves his job and participating in spirit events just makes the school a better place, but that same enthusiasm isn’t always reflected in class.
Teachers don’t expect constant recognition, but a little effort goes a long way.
This is the opinion of Merije Iljazi, a junior reporter for the Chief Advocate.
