Everyone has one.

That one teacher that did something different in their lesson plan, stayed late in the day to ensure the student understood the lesson plan, or just listened to the problems of a teenager coming of age.

Often, these teachers don’t receive the recognition they deserve.

They work long hours, beyond the classroom hours, to ensure their students will move on to the next grade.

For teachers, taking a new group of children under their wing each and every year to educate them about a certain subject and about life is a calling that only a select few can do well.

The task involves dealing with various, and often emerging, personalities while trying to keep the principal and school’s administration happy.

But there is an opportunity to honor those that have a large role in how society’s children turn out.

While parents play the major role in the upbringing of the next generation, the teachers that come in and out of their lives are extremely important.

That’s why it’s necessary to recognize the teachers that stand above all the rest to become that one teacher each student remembers for the rest of their lives.

Each year the Item staff witness these teachers being recognized by their principals at school board meetings for their achievements.

Each time, we think back to the teachers that helped us become the adults we are today.

So, with that in mind, we would like to issue a heart-felt “thank you” to each and every teacher in Pearl River County.

Whether you were chosen as a teacher of the year or not, your efforts are appreciated.

Keep up the good work, and remember, you are an essential piece in a student’s life.