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40 People Share How Grateful They Are for the Times Their Teachers and Professors Went Above and Beyond Their Duties

In case you were wondering why educators deserve a livable wage—here's evidence that they're incredible.

40 People Share How Grateful They Are for the Times Their Teachers and Professors Went Above and Beyond Their Duties

Some teachers leave a mark that lasts far beyond the school year. A kind word, a little patience, or a quiet act of generosity can stick with a student for decades.

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That is the heart of this Reddit thread, where people shared the moments their teachers and professors went well beyond the job description. Some stories are small and simple, while others show just how much a caring educator can change a life.

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These are the kinds of teachers people never forget, and the stories below make it easy to see why.

Here's the question that instantly sparked a trip down memory lane:

Here's the question that instantly sparked a trip down memory lane:ApacheAirCover
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The first story sets the tone for everything that follows.

1. Those small affirmations could be the only ray of sunshine for a kid

1. Those small affirmations could be the only ray of sunshine for a kidVoiceisaweapon
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2. A teacher straight out of School of Rock who chose his love for teaching over fame

2. A teacher straight out of School of Rock who chose his love for teaching over famedasoberirishman dasoberirishman dasoberirishman

That kind of dedication is hard to forget.

3. The principal who led by example

3. The principal who led by examplehopgeek hopgeek

4. The high school teacher who hated seeing her once sweet students become jaded teenagers

4. The high school teacher who hated seeing her once sweet students become jaded teenagersNuluProton NuluProton NuluProton

5. Salute to the teacher who used his personal time to ensure kids were involved in the right kind of activities

5. Salute to the teacher who used his personal time to ensure kids were involved in the right kind of activities[deleted]

6. No child deserves to go hungry

6. No child deserves to go hungrysk8erguysk8er

7. Kindness breeds kindness

7. Kindness breeds kindnesstrashymob trashymob

8. A love of reading supported and funded by a dedicated educator

8. A love of reading supported and funded by a dedicated educatorbanhbohap

9. Sometimes what you need is someone who will push you to strive harder

9. Sometimes what you need is someone who will push you to strive harderAvogadrosMoleSauce

10. The teacher we all deserve

10. The teacher we all deserveNicholi417

11. Textbooks are incredibly expensive and get revised almost annually

11. Textbooks are incredibly expensive and get revised almost annuallyenchiladacheese

12. A good adult who was willing to admit mistakes and make amends

12. A good adult who was willing to admit mistakes and make amendsAndreas_NYC Andreas_NYC

13. Neurodivergent kids were treated like human beings for what seemed like the first time

13. Neurodivergent kids were treated like human beings for what seemed like the first timemild_salsa_dip

Some teachers made students feel seen in a way they had never experienced before.

mild_salsa_dip

14. They have bad days too, but he didn't take it out on his students in the form of a surprise exam

14. They have bad days too, but he didn't take it out on his students in the form of a surprise exam[deleted]

That “secret loan” pressure is similar to asking parents to repay the hidden education loan that left everyone stressed.

15. Teachers truly deserve everything great in the world

15. Teachers truly deserve everything great in the worldBack2Bach

16. An adult who finally understood what it's like to be growing up

16. An adult who finally understood what it's like to be growing upMom_is_watching

17. Someone who genuinely cares if you learned something in their class

17. Someone who genuinely cares if you learned something in their classThesorus

18. A brilliant chemistry teacher who made a difficult subject more enjoyable

18. A brilliant chemistry teacher who made a difficult subject more enjoyableHylianEngineer HylianEngineer

19. A teacher who understood and cared about their students' mental health

19. A teacher who understood and cared about their students' mental healthSpooky_ShadowMan

20. He just wanted to have a class like it was in the movies!

20. He just wanted to have a class like it was in the movies!Waffle842

21. Someone who valued honesty

21. Someone who valued honestyScratch_That_

22. What was the story of the Pink Elephant? Now we want to know too!

22. What was the story of the Pink Elephant? Now we want to know too!Cae1us

23. A great vocabulary lesson

23. A great vocabulary lessondinodinodako

24. "Just do what you can"

24. "Just do what you can"jodehleh

25. An amazing teacher who will not let you throw away your life

25. An amazing teacher who will not let you throw away your lifeCareful_Horse1588 Careful_Horse1588 Careful_Horse1588 Careful_Horse1588

26. He was a much better prankster

26. He was a much better pranksterbitchtits93

27. We do not tolerate any bullying in these parts

27. We do not tolerate any bullying in these partsMariospario

28. A coach who knew his students well enough to sense when something was lacking

28. A coach who knew his students well enough to sense when something was lackingMolly1173

29. Stickers are amazing, and your teacher was really cool!

29. Stickers are amazing, and your teacher was really cool!Techpreist_X21Alpha Techpreist_X21Alpha

30. The rule applies to them as well

30. The rule applies to them as wellStraightup32

31. A true leader who genuinely cared

31. A true leader who genuinely caredmmjames66 mmjames66

32. Everyone has a bad day

32. Everyone has a bad dayPancakesandMaggots PancakesandMaggots

33. You don't gain anything by failing and moving on

33. You don't gain anything by failing and moving onPhiloPhocion PhiloPhocion

34. They shouldn't have had to teach that class, but that was an admirable display of dedication

34. They shouldn't have had to teach that class, but that was an admirable display of dedicationnayersman

35. Do not underestimate the quiet ones

35. Do not underestimate the quiet onesMooseclumps_ Mooseclumps_

36. A great teacher who ensured their student was comfortable

36. A great teacher who ensured their student was comfortableiknowthisischeesy

37. May his memory continue to be a blessing

37. May his memory continue to be a blessingrealrealityreally

38. This is the kind of motivation that will push you to your fullest potential

38. This is the kind of motivation that will push you to your fullest potentialSuperTed321 SuperTed321

39. An overqualified teacher who provided great lessons

39. An overqualified teacher who provided great lessonsPimpcool420

40. Mr. D'Onofrio shouldn't have had to think about sacrificing his life for his students, but he would if the need arose

40. Mr. D'Onofrio shouldn't have had to think about sacrificing his life for his students, but he would if the need aroseMister_IceBlister Mister_IceBlister Mister_IceBlister

It is hard to overstate how much these teachers gave, often with little recognition in return.

They were the kind of educators people never stop being grateful for.

Still dealing with family money tension, read whether she’s the AITA for questioning parents’ grandkids education fund contributions.

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