In the spirit of Mother’s Day, it’s time to show extra appreciation to the mothers, wives, girlfriends, grandmothers, and all the women in your life who have achieved more than society historically thought they could. Women have fought to be more than caretakers, but to become career women. In fact, Curtis’ female teachers reported that the skills they picked up in motherhood helped them become better teachers.

Ms. Manzello, a history teacher, says she realizes teens need a little more sympathy when dealing with home and school things. “I have been teaching since I got out of college, and I definitely have learned more patience, a lot more empathy, and just looking at all the students, they’re all someone’s child, so instead of being closed-minded, I’m more like “Oh, it’s okay, I know things happened.” Overall, I definitely use these scales both at home and here,” said Ms. Manzello.

Other teachers, like Ms. Mauro, an English teacher, have expressed their views on how they make their classroom a safe space for students. “I feel like being a woman shapes some perspectives and experiences that I bring into the classroom. It helps me to bring empathy and strong communication into the classroom. These qualities help me build trusting relationships that encourage students to participate and grow. I also always try to greet them warmly, learn about their interests, and make sure that everyone feels seen, which creates a safe place where students know that they can just be themselves without fear of judgment.”