Whenever I think about who inspired me to become a writer, my second-grade teacher comes to mind.

When I think about who inspired me to think critically, and ask questions, a high school teacher comes to mind.

When I think about who will shape and influence my children over the years, teachers come to mind.

The importance and value of great teachers cannot be understated. These dedicated servants to education can make all the difference in the lives of our children.

I have long had a deep respect for this profession, yet, I never fully understood the depth of work and devotion to this career, until I got my hands on a copy of Schooled: A Love Letter to the Exhausting, Infuriating, Occasionally Excruciating Yet Somehow Completely Wonderful Profession of Teaching.

Written by the hysterical Stephanie Jankowski, founder of When Crazy Meets Exhaustion, Schooled will speak to anyone in the field of education, who wants to laugh, cry and commiserate about their experiences.

And for those of us who aren’t educators, Schooled provides much-needed insight into what our children’s teachers go through daily.

While I was well aware of the extra hours teachers put into grading papers, preparing lessons and creating a productive learning environment, Jankowski’s book helped me better understand the emotional labor involved in working with young people. The author doesn’t hold back when it comes to dealing with students of varying desires to be in the classroom, administrators who don’t always have the children’s best interest in mind, and parents who are often overbearing and overreaching in their involvement.

Reading about how Jankowski was able to listen to the needs of her students and make her lessons relevant to their experiences, made me appreciate all those teachers who did the same for me, and those who currently do for my children. As a parent, who may not always like a teacher’s approach, I better understand the frustration often goes both ways, and that a good teacher really does have the students’ best interest at heart.

If you’re looking for a great gift for the teacher in your life, or you just want to better understand what goes into teaching your children everyday, Schooled is the book for you.

Schooled: A Love Letter to the Exhausting, Infuriating, Occasionally Excruciating Yet Somehow Completely Wonderful Profession of Teaching:  is now available. Get your copy today.