Whether online or in-person, teachers have met their students with a smile each day during the pandemic. This year for Teacher Appreciation Week, most went the extra mile to celebrate educators. “Amazing, amazing work. We can’t thank them enough,” said Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet. Hamlet tweeted out his thanks to teachers this week. On Friday, he spoke about the greater appreciation out there for teachers after the pandemic and the challenges it brought. “I think now this year, if you didn’t have a heavy appreciation for teachers, you will now when it comes to that,” he said. Reggie Branson saw Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 filming on Friday when he pulled up on our crew. The senior at Pittsburgh’s Obama Academy eager to share a message to his teachers. “I would say just thank you because like it’s tough sometimes being a teacher,” he said. Suzie Berry has taught math at Obama Academy for 27 years. “It’s nice when they do appreciate you even outside of this week,” she said. Berry said the encouragement from students keeps her going and despite her concern for pandemic-related learning loss this summer, she is staying positive. “Kids are resilient and teachers are resourceful,” Berry said. “We’re going to get it together.”