A school year has ended. Kindergartners are becoming big first graders. Fifth graders are journeying toward the land of the unknown, middle school. Eighth graders are focusing their attention on fall's big game, high school.

While K-12 kids look to the next step, let's take a moment to appreciate the heroes of education and character-building, our teachers. As America's teachers conclude another academic year, it is valuable for parents to take a moment, either in-person or with a note, to say "Thank-you" to that classroom teacher who has been an academic guide, counselor, encourager, disciplinarian and inspirer for your child, spending countless hours thinking and acting on behalf of your child's best interests.

America's K-12 teachers are the glue that year in and year out mold the fabric of our society. Throughout America today, millions of K-12 educators are practitioners of classroom course work that encourage America's kids to become academically fit, emotionally secure and character-wise.

In the last five years K-12 educators have renewed their efforts to be primary practitioners of preparing youngsters to know what it takes to be life-smart. Millions of teachers in K-12 classrooms have refocused and re-energized their class curricula by salt and peppering their lessons with character building experiences that challenge our kids to be personally responsible; to act with kindness; to demonstrate respect; to plod along with perseverance; to hold an outlook that looks to serve the needs of others; to be a citizen of their classroom and community.

America's K-12 teachers are turning the corner on a damaging educational bias which undermined the presentation of perennial values that shape a civil and humane society. A generation later we have reaped a rich, negative harvest from our failed presentation of values-free education.

Today, millions of America's teachers are utilizing their classrooms as laboratories for infusing character back into the mainstream of education's primary task, producing citizens of character who will make meaningful contributions to our society.

I encourage parents to share that "Thank-you" with the K-12 teacher who has helped your kid grow as a kid of character this year.

Russell Williams is President of Passkeys Foundation~Jefferson Center for Character Education. For more information contact (949) 770-7602 or www.jeffersoncenter.org.