The annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon was hosted by the Parent Teacher Student Association(PTSA) in the library on Wednesday, May 7.
The event was catered by Las Vegas Taqueria and offered more than flavorful tacos and desserts — it gave a heartfelt thanks to the staff who shape students’ lives every day.
“I kind of just feel like I’m doing my job,” biology teacher Kieu Pham said. “But it’s really nice to feel that appreciation from the community. It keeps me going on the not-so-great days.”
PTSA volunteers and parents organized the event, which featured a curated menu based on teacher feedback from previous years, including vegan options and donated desserts from parents, volunteer Meenakshi Kamat said.
“We had to listen to feedback from last year and make changes to the menu,” Kamat said. “Food is always a challenge — everyone has different tastes. But it’s worth it just to see smiles on teachers’ faces.”
The smile-inducing gratitude was especially meaningful for those honored at luncheon, but for Pham many small moments throughout the year make a lasting impression.
“Every year I get notes and cards from students, and I keep them all in a box,” she said. “I reread them on hard days — notes like ‘I didn’t like science until your class,’ or ‘You changed my mind.’ That makes everything worth it.”
College and career specialist Alcina Rosas shared a similar sentiment.
“It’s the little things,” she said. “A student turns in a community service form late, and I still accept it — the relief and gratitude you see on their face is everything.”
Appreciation, especially from the students, is what makes the hard work meaningful, Rosas said.
“It’s very heartwarming. We love to know we’re making some kind of difference,” Rosas said.
Rosas hopes that students understand that teachers and staff are people too, she added.
“Your teachers are human,” she said. “Everyone here is working hard to help you succeed.”
The social aspect of the event also stands out to teachers, Pham said.
“At events like this, I finally get to meet some of the parents I never see,” she said. “It makes it feel more connected.”
Pham credits her own high school biology teacher for shaping her passion for hands-on, lab-based science teaching, she said.
“You don’t learn science without doing a lot of labs,” Pham said.
When asked what advice she would offer to new educators, she kept her message simple.
“Keep that box of student notes,” Pham said. “You’ll need it on the hard days.”