Celebrating the Heart of Adult Education: National Teacher Appreciation Week

This week, as the nation celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to shine a well-deserved spotlight on a group of educators who often work quietly behind the scenes—adult education teachers. These incredible professionals are changing lives every day, one learner at a time.

Just like their K–12 counterparts, adult educators play a vital role in strengthening our communities. They teach reading, writing, math, digital literacy, and career skills—not in traditional classrooms full of young students but in learning spaces filled with adults who are juggling jobs, parenting, and real-life challenges. Many of our learners arrive with stories of struggle, yet they also bring determination. It is our teachers who help them transform that determination into progress.

Adult education teachers go above and beyond. They stay late, prep on weekends, bring empathy and encouragement to every lesson, and meet learners where they are. They serve not only as instructors but as mentors, cheerleaders, and sometimes lifelines. The work isn’t easy, but it is deeply meaningful. They do it for the love of teaching, the power of second chances, and the incredible reward of witnessing transformation—whether it’s a GED earned, a new job secured, or a student simply gaining the confidence to speak up.

To every adult education teacher across Indiana and beyond, thank you. You are a force for good. You are changing lives and building stronger families, workplaces, and communities.

As a small token of appreciation, we want to share a gift with you—a curated collection of tools and inspiration to support your work and celebrate your impact:

🎁 Your IAACE Teacher Appreciation Gift
Explore these resources created just for YOU:

• 🗣️ Teachers Talk – Voices and ideas from fellow educators, your community to learn and network

• 📚 General Resources – Materials to enhance your instruction

• 🛠️ Tools – Digital and practical tools for everyday teaching

• 🌟 Best Practices & Tools – Proven strategies that work

• 🌐 Digital Equity & Skills – Support for bridging the digital divide

• 💼 WEI – Workforce Education Initiative – Tools for connecting education and employment

• 🚀 IET – Integrated Education & Training – Resources to help you deliver effective career pathway instruction

• 🎓 Indiana Student Success Stories – Be inspired by the lives you help change

We hope these resources remind you that you’re not alone in this work—and that you are deeply valued.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

With gratitude,
Jenn Wigginton
Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education Executive Director

Jenn Wigginton

Jenn is the IAACE Executive Director. Her passion for adult education shines through in everything she does for IAACE. You can invite her to a chat for questions anytime. Click here to book a time to chat with Jenn