To the editor:

If it takes a village to raise a child, never have we needed all hands on deck more than we do right now.

The work of education professionals across New York during the pandemic is nothing short of awe-inspiring. School-Related Professionals continue to support learning both online and in person.

Building relationships with students, keeping them fed and ensuring they have a safe learning environment are critical jobs that often don't receive enough attention. So as state School-Related Professionals Recognition Day approaches on Nov. 17, it's important we all take a moment to recognize that work.

Consider for example the hard work of SRPs at Sullivan West since the pandemic began. They report that teacher aides are checking in with students at home to make sure any remote learning problems are addressed quickly.

Cleaners have met head on the arduous task of disinfecting school buildings to ensure they are as safe as possible for students and staff alike to return in person. When school buildings closed last spring, food service workers kicked it into high gear to prepare food for every student to pick up or have delivered to them.

Across Sullivan County and the state, SRPs deserve our thanks for everything they're doing for students. Better yet, they deserve our support in advocating that our schools have the resources needed to provide for children at a time of significantly increased need.

What's most important is that their work doesn't go unnoticed.