30+ Wholesome Teachers Who Deserve One Heck of a Raise

You’ve got to respect mothers who are able to juggle raising their children and going to school at the same time. Moms usually work overtime for their families, and going to school while raising a young child must be exhausting.

All teachers should be this understanding. Ultimately their role is to educate, and that education should be allowed to take place no matter its form. We’ve seen more and more stories like this lately, and we love the openness and compassion of the professors.

The pandemic very rapidly forced new methods of teaching upon every teacher in the world. They suddenly had to adapt to video conferencing platforms, digitizing homework, and solitude where there used to be loads of students.

It was completely draining for most educators, yet they still found ways to go above and beyond, like this teacher who sent her students care packages. As a parent, we’d have no doubts this teacher loves our children.

Pottery classes are so much fun. There’s nothing like working with your hands in a very literally hands-on medium, and it’s fun to use cups or bowls you know you made yourself. But, what happens if you can’t finish your pieces?

Your teacher will do it for you — at least, if you’re in this person’s class. It’s so sweet that the teacher thought of them enough while they were in the hospital to make sure they could come back to this beautiful piece.

Issues going on at home for young school-aged students may be more obvious, but college students may be facing issues as well and are just better at hiding it. They may think their professors won’t care about their problems.

This professor did more than show she cared. She took time out of her day to not only purchase this gift for her student — but to also do some research and write such a heartfelt letter. Professors like this don’t come along every day.

In this increasingly digital world, there’s nothing more frustrating than technical difficulties. No matter how well we plan, we can’t control if the WiFi crashes or the video feed is laggy. We just have to roll with it and hope for the best.

This professor didn’t have to do this. A lot of students are upset during or after giving presentations. This email just shows that the professor here cares about the emotional well-being of their students, which makes all the difference.

Finding out that a family member is seriously ill is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person. The last thing you want to do in that situation is sit in class and think about grades.

Thankfully, this professor understood that when Luke’s grandfather became ill. He also went above and beyond by offering him options that involved getting around the exam he may miss. That’s the kind of professor we all need.

Living in a cross-cultural society can often lead to a lot of confusion. People think that all Spanish-speaking countries and cultures are the same, or that all Asian countries are the same. That’s what this student was experiencing.

This teacher paid enough attention to not only notice the problem, but also teach a lesson about it when she didn’t have to. She both opened those students’ minds and made life easier for the person who shared this story.

Every parent does their best to care for their children, but sometimes things happen that hinder their ability to do simple things — like brush or style their children’s hair. That’s where caring teachers come in.

She didn’t shame this student for his messy hair. She simply helped him brush it, and was doing so much more for him than she could have known. A little compassion goes a long way as a teacher.

Kids learn a lot more at school than simple reading, math, and science skills. They learn how to study, how to work together, how to respect others, and so many more things that are just as important as hard education skills.

This is such a creative way to instill basic ideals in your students — like being kind to others, communicating, and supporting those around you. The kids may think they’re just getting a reward, but they’re doing so much more than that.

Kids doodle. It’s inevitable. Some teachers try to get them to stop doodling during class, but others recognize that just because they’re scribbling on a notepad doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t paying attention.

And some go as far as to actively encourage it, like this teacher. Instead of squashing a student’s passion for drawing, this teacher found a way to incorporate it into his class, allowing that student to express themselves without being disrupted.

Middle and high schoolers go through a lot of hormonal and social changes very rapidly. It’s a very overwhelming time of life. One of the most awkward parts is starting to crush on classmates.

What this tells us is that the student must have been very comfortable with that teacher and trusted her a lot in order to mention her crush by name in her journal. And the teacher subtly supported her.

Teachers often have an impact on our lives long after we leave the classroom. Whether it’s through staying in touch with us or simply lessons that they taught us, they have such big impacts on our lives.

This teacher couldn’t have known that messaging his old student would mean so much. Still, he did it anyway to show how proud he is of his former pupil. That kind of thing can turn a day around.

Mental health is so essential, and something that we should all be more open to talking about. Students are under a lot of pressure, and they should always be reminded that they’re worth more than their grades.

This sounds like a health class, and we love that it was covering mental health. The fact that this teacher took so much time to write personalized notes like this is not something students take lightly. They know how much care that takes.

Teachers go through so much stress. They have meeting after meeting, too much material to teach in too little time, and too many students to try and build meaningful connections within such a short time span.

You may read this decision and think, “Well, shouldn’t you have been doing that in the first place?” But, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind, especially as a high school teacher. We’re glad she came to this conclusion.

Having a pet isn’t too far off from having a child. They’re needy. They need constant attention, feeding, bathing, walking, and stimulation in general. It’s a lot of responsibility for a college student to take on.

After receiving so many emails about missing class, extra credit work, and whatever else professors deal with, something so wholesome must have been a breath of fresh air! We need to know how that class went.

During the holiday of Ramadan, practicing Muslims fast. That means that they can’t consume any food or drink, including water, from sunrise to sunset. It can be really hard when everyone around you is carrying on as normal.

It’s so sweet that this teacher paid enough attention to offer this to this student. Holidays that don’t come with days off are often ignored, so it’s so important that this teacher acknowledged it and gave the student this option!

Something about the pandemic that was really hard on both teachers and students was not being able to sit down and interact face-to-face with each other. It spurred a lot of creative ways of seeing each other, like what this teacher did.

People who don’t live in small communities may not be able to do things like this, but this teacher could, and we bet it made that little girl so happy. Math is something that needs to be worked through together.

The great thing about art is that it gives us a chance to express ourselves. It’s about experimentation. What happens when you mix those colors? What happens if you draw that picture a little differently?

Teachers shouldn’t lie to children, but they should encourage them to learn and to get better at things, which means a lot of positive reinforcement. This is especially important in art classes, where you don’t want to squash their creativity.

We have a tendency to think of college professors as these smart, scary people who don’t really care that much about what happens to us. But, every day, there are professors proving that that isn’t the case at all.

This one is a perfect example. She did more than allow them an extension on an assignment — she recognized that grief is long-term and promised to do the best she could to work with the student. She’d get an A+ in compassion.

There are a lot of systems in the body, and it can be really confusing to try to learn them all and their parts, whether you’re a kid or an adult. Some teachers look for new ways to teach them.

This is the perfect way to make learning about organs and muscles much more realistic. They aren’t 2D, so seeing them on an actual human like this makes it easier to associate what goes where. Hats off to this anatomy teacher.

The great thing about this day and age is that we are all making an effort to be more accepting of those around us, no matter how they identify themselves. One way is by being respectful of terms they prefer when referring to themselves.

Surely the professor knew that it was a joke, but they decided to roll with it, making it a funny experience for both the student and the class. Who votes for “ya boi” to be a new personal pronoun? We do!

It’s unfortunate, but the quality of education that people around the world — or even within the same school system — receive varies drastically. Some just don’t have the opportunity to learn the same skills that others do.

This teacher decided to help people outside of his school who wanted help with math skills by offering free math classes on the street. That’s someone who’s passionate about education and how it can improve our day-to-day lives.

Attending college means studying like you’ve never studied before. It’s a lot more work, and it requires more effort than high school classes do. It’s lots of long nights spent at the campus library cramming for exams and reading class material.

This is a great example of why you shouldn’t be afraid to ask your professors for help. When they’re good professors, they care about the quality of your education, even if it means joining you for a late-night library sesh!

Reading is hard, especially in English. Just when you think you’ve figured out how something sounds, those letters turn around and make different sounds in other words. It’s very frustrating for both kids and English language learners.

This is absolutely genius. She’s using math, a subject the student prefers, to practice reading word problems — and she’s using something funny that makes the kid giggle. It’s definitely one way to keep the little man engaged during the lesson.

Kids care a lot about what the adults in their lives think of them. Even teens, who act like they’re too cool for school, want to do a good job and please those around them. So, when teachers make unpleasant facial expressions while grading assignments, it can be cause for some concern.

This would give us a good laugh as students. We wonder if he changes the hero each time he has to grade something. It’s nice for them to not see his facial expression and feel like he’s judging them.

Teachers deserve a lot more pay for what they do. Not only are they responsible for the intelligence of future generations — but they deal with cranky parents, grumpy kids, and all sorts of other daily problems, yet they still go above and beyond.

What a sweet thing to do! They probably all had a really hard year, including the teacher, and they wanted to show the students that they care. It will be a nice memory to look back on when they’re older.

Some children, for one reason or another, don’t have access to basic personal needs, like a variety of clean clothing or personal hygiene products. While this isn’t the school’s responsibility, most teachers care enough to try and do something about it anyway.

This is the kind of thing that can make a massive difference in someone’s life. So many children are embarrassed to go to school because they don’t have enough clothes or don’t have deodorant. What an amazing initiative.

It’s essential to have appropriate footwear in P.E. class. While kids can technically run or play sports without sneakers, they’re much more likely to injure themselves if they do. So, sneakers are a must.

No teacher wants to see their students struggling, this teacher included, so they took money out of his own pocket to help this student out. They’re not only a great teacher — but they’re also a kind and compassionate person. We want more gym teachers like this.

Teachers with a sense of humor can really change the vibe in a classroom. It often makes the students respect them more, because the students know there’s a balance between learning and personality. This math teacher had both a sense of humor and a mild ego.

They had to have custom-ordered that stamp, which is pretty funny in and of itself. What’s also funny is the last thing kids want for doing well on an exam is to see their teacher’s face more!

Some teachers like to doodle just as much as students, yet don’t have an outlet for it — at least, not at school. So, unless they’re an art teacher, they just have to suppress their urge to doodle.

That is, unless they’re this teacher, who decided to finish doodles that their students start. They’ve got a great sense of humor, but we do have to wonder if their students even understand the reference!

Yearbooks are weird, if you think about it. You get up to 12 books of photos of every single kid in your school, that you may look at every few years or so, and maybe remember a handful of them.

Teachers have to be in yearbooks every year, so some decide to get creative with their photos, like this trio. We love their sense of humor and the kids must look forward to seeing what they do each year.

While we appreciate that this teacher’s heart is in the right place, we’re not so sure we agree with their methods. Students need to learn time management skills, and the consequences of not completing their work in time, as those same lessons will need to be implemented outside of school – particularly at jobs.

If you don’t get your work done on time, your boss won’t insist you rest rather than pull an all-nighter. Let kids learn these skills now – when the consequences aren’t as bad.

Sometimes, as a student, you feel like you live on a separate planet from your teachers. They don’t understand your slang or know the music that you listen to. But, not all teachers are that disconnected, as this chemistry teacher proved.

If you’re thinking that this seems familiar but can’t figure out why, it’s the intro to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. Chemistry can be tough, so making it funny is a good way to make it feel easier.

Kids love April Fool’s Day. It’s a chance to play minor pranks on other classmates and on your teachers — if they’re one of the cool, laid-back ones. These kids decided to put all their desks on their sides.

When the teacher saw it, they played along, writing all of the text on the board sideways so that their turned-around students could read it. They must have loved that their teacher went along with it instead of getting angry.

Learning how to spell properly is a major part of school. Communication is the most important part of language, but writing in a way others can understand is also extremely important, especially in an increasingly digital world.

This teacher draws funny doodles to point out their students’ spelling mistakes. It shows them how it’s wrong without belittling them. These funny doodles actually make them more likely to remember why it’s wrong, so it’s a win/win for the teacher.

Heterosexuals often take for granted the fact that they don’t have to tell people what kind of people they love. It’s just assumed and widely accepted as normal. Others aren’t so fortunate, like this student.

Who’s cutting onions again? It’s hard not to be teary-eyed at this professor caring so deeply about their student. Everyone deserves to be loved and accepted, so it’s great that this professor could provide that for this student.

Professors spend a lot of time with their students, which means that they often get to know some of them very well. This professor was worried about a student that she hadn’t seen around and did the unexpected.

We know that not every teacher has the funds to do this, so the fact that this professor did and gave to a student so willingly is a testament to why educators are incredible people. If anyone deserves a raise, it’s this woman.

Losing a parent is insanely difficult for anyone, but it’s especially hard on little ones. They’re still at an age where they rely on their parents for everything, so the sudden absence of one is difficult to understand and cope with.

This is both the sweetest thing ever and absolutely heartbreaking. We wouldn’t be surprised if dad presses that cuddle button just as often as his little girl does. That teacher knew perfectly how to help.

Middle school teachers love to tell their students how high school teachers won’t be so forgiving. High school teachers love to say the same about college professors. And in reality, most of them are more laidback than those previous teachers claim.

Take this professor. They’re so laid back that they eat trail mix while grading notebooks. Any student who receives an email like this would have cracked up. Both students and teachers need light moments like this!

Most people can relate to having days in which they feel insecure about their hair. Appearance is especially important to teenagers, who are finding their place in the world and amongst their peers. Good teachers can understand that.

How sweet is it that this teacher took personal time to help a student? They didn’t have to, and the student probably didn’t expect them to. Still, we bet it made the student’s day, which was a great feeling for both of them.

Life goes on whether or not we’re in class, and sometimes, life events can make it hard to pay attention in school. When this student did a poor job on a final due to outside issues and apologized, this is how their professor responded.

This professor’s response to their student admitting their struggles could not have been more perfect. They acknowledge the struggles and put a positive spin on the negativity the student is experiencing. What a wonderful human.

It’s nothing new for teachers to use pictures or movies to enhance the learning experience of their students, to make things a bit more interesting for everyone. This teacher took this to a whole other level with their incredible artistic skills, though.

This is the perfect way for this teacher to combine what we assume are their two great passions — teaching history and drawing incredible whiteboard creations like this one. That’s one way to make sure your students stay invested when learning about the Shang Dynasty.

Sometimes, all a kid needs for their confidence and self-esteem to skyrocket is for a loving adult around them to take an interest and be a role model for them. This teacher was willing to go to whatever lengths to help her student.

In fact, she was happy to lose her long locks if it meant her student felt good with her own haircut. Plus, this is a great way to teach her other students that no one’s gender is based on something as arbitrary as their hair length!

Some teachers are just fine, and you’ll probably forget about them eventually. But, the truly great teachers will stay with you forever, whether or not you stay in touch. This teacher has clearly been keeping tabs on her beloved student.

Having a scientific role model in her teacher seems to have been exactly what this doctor-to-be needed as a kid to believe that she, too, could continue researching the things she loves! This proves how vital teachers are — just like bees!

Losing a loved one is always hard, and being in the middle of your studies when it happens really doesn’t help. Thankfully, if your teacher is compassionate and empathetic, they usually do their best to try to help.

This post shows exactly why it’s so important for teachers to remember that their students are human beings with complex lives and not machines. So, if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, definitely be like prof #2.

Like we’ve said before — juggling school, parenting, and work is really hard for university students. Basically, no matter how hard you try to keep these things separate, they’re bound to mix together on occasion, leaving students desperately trying to do their best.

This professor seems to understand that delicate balance perfectly. But, he refuses to let these unavoidable issues take away from his students’ ability to study well. This is one professor we would be glad to learn from!

While having a dress code for school is important, some schools just take it too far! Especially when it comes to claiming that certain clothes can only be worn by some students and not by others.

These teachers refused to sit quietly when their student was expelled after wanting to wear a skirt. Instead, they decided to protest the school’s decision in the most wholesome way possible — by absolutely rocking skirts themselves!

Do you know how you can tell that a teacher is truly awesome? If their class cares enough about them to throw them a surprise party to celebrate their birthday. Not only did these students do just that for their professor, but they also got him his favorite cake!

They must really love him to know exactly what kind of cheesecake he prefers. The only reason for them to make such an effort is that he really is the best teacher ever! Happy Birthday!

Whether it’s noticing your class is losing focus and changing the entire plan for the day, or finding a solution to logistical issues in the classroom, one of the signs of a truly great teacher is their ability to adapt.

This professor is truly great as he was able to find a way to keep his students engaged and learning despite being thrown into the outdoors with very little warning. He even found a replacement blackboard!

To anyone who possibly thinks that art classes and teachers are unnecessary or overrated, we submit as evidence this absolutely adorable and heartwarming picture of this kid’s joy at receiving art supplies when she couldn’t go to school.

This is all the proof we need to know that art is absolutely essential inside school and outside of it. This gift is just amazing — seriously, how can we get one just like it from her wonderful teacher?

As we’ve said, the holidays are a complicated time, especially for students who are far from home for the very first time or don’t have a good family experience. This teacher definitely understands how difficult it might be.

So, they’ve issued this wholesome and open invitation to join their own family celebrations! It takes a truly kind and empathetic heart to open your own home with this much enthusiasm and joy. Both the good food and joyful heart sound amazing!

As you may know, the price of university textbooks has become beyond absurd in the past few years, with some books costing around $300 on their own! Thankfully, there are some professors who think this is just as crazy as we do!

This professor was more than happy to let their students know that they should avoid using these wonderfully-free resources to find all their textbooks without any of the cost (wink wink). We love a funny and helpful teacher.

By now, we think it’s pretty clear that we absolutely love teachers with a healthy sense of humor — especially if that humor involves an impressive knowledge of current pop culture and memes. This teacher is a winner in our books!

This is how you Rickroll an entire classroom in style! Plus, this just might be the easiest question we’ve ever seen. We love when extra credit is just an excuse to make students laugh and feel good at the end of an exam.

Naps are seriously one of the most underrated things in the world — there’s just nothing like taking a little while to rest your body in the middle of the day. This is especially needed when you’ve been up all night studying.

This teacher absolutely nailed her response to this kid accidentally falling asleep — not only did she let him be, but she made his impromptu nap even better by blocking out the light that could have bothered him. A+ teacher!

Being a teacher truly is a calling — you really have to love both the students and your subject matter. This retired teacher seems completely dedicated to both his love for his students and his passion for chemistry.

That completely explains why he dedicated two decades of his life to stitching this incredible blanket in his free time! Between his chemistry joy and his dedication to crafting, his students surely learned a ton from him!

Here’s another professor who absolutely refuses to let his students have to choose between taking care of their children and their own higher education! When this sweet baby started crying while their mom was taking a quiz, her professor came to the rescue!

He made sure to entertain the sweet child, even going down on his knees to make sure the baby was well-fed and well-behaved. This way, the whole class could take their quiz in silence, plus the professor had something fun to do to pass the time!

Adjusting to life in school is really difficult for a child. They want to play and explore the world, rather than sit at a desk or do homework. Thankfully, more and more teachers seem to be recognizing and accepting that.

It’s so important for us to recognize things that aren’t working in order to grow, both in our personal lives and in our professional ones. This teacher did exactly that, and those parents and children must be so grateful.

High school graduation is a monumental moment for most young people, especially those who were struggling throughout their education — whether financially, emotionally, or physically. So, when this school’s ridiculous policy almost didn’t let a student walk, his teacher found a quick solution.

That student will remember this teacher’s kindness for the rest of their life, and also have a funny story to tell. We hope the school reconsidered the ridiculous policy in later years.

Teachers often become like another set of parents to their students due to the sheer amount of time they spend with them. So, teachers should be aware of what’s going on at home in order to do the best they can for the kids.

This is such a great way of making sure to go easy on the kid with the bad attitude without invading the family’s privacy. If we were parents of kids in this class, we’d be grateful for such a compassionate teacher.

Thanksgiving is a hugely important holiday for most Americans. It’s a time to get together with those we love, much in the same way Christmas is for most others around the world. So, being away at college for Thanksgiving can be hard.

Add pandemic limitations to that homesickness, and it’s the perfect recipe for a very lonely holiday. This professor’s offer is truly above and beyond. Who here started cutting onions? Our eyes are very misty reading this.

Cycling is a fantastic sport. It’s a way to stay active and it’s better for the environment than cars. But, it can also be dangerous to be on the road with so many larger, faster vehicles, so accidents do happen.

This is one of the cutest things ever. We bet he was a science teacher, because they’re usually the ones who find the most creative ways possible to teach by demonstration and relating to real life.

Really, the price of textbooks is absolutely unreasonable! If you’re already paying for your education, that should include whatever you need in order to keep up in your classes. What if someone is a perfect student but genuinely can’t afford the textbook?!

Well, this teacher came to the rescue! We’re sure their students really appreciated this informative email telling them where they shouldn’t get their textbooks for free. We have no doubt that every single student will make sure to avoid these sites.