Pickerington Online welcomes readers to submit Letters to the Editor. The opinions expressed in these letters are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or staff. Letters emailed to editor@pickeringtononline.com will be posted on both the organization’s website and social media within a few days of receipt, unless the contributor specifies a preferred publication time.

April 24, 2026

To the Editor:

I feel very lucky to be a teacher at Pickerington Local Schools. I work with an amazing group of educators and professionals who come to school and give their best to the students every day. Over the years, there has been a change in education as a whole, but there is something incredible about what happens at Pickerington Schools every day. I have watched children arrive carrying burdens that have grown heavier: food insecurity, anxiety, trauma, family instability. The staff, teachers, counselors, social workers, and intervention specialists who once helped carry those burdens alongside us have been stretched, or in some cases, eliminated altogether.

We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for what our students have always deserved — a teacher who has what they need for them and a support system that is there to support them in all ways needed. The upcoming operating levy is how we get there. It is not a line on a tax bill. It is a child in our community who stays in school, stays on track, and has a chance to succeed. Thank you for reading this. I hope you will vote yes.

Thank you,
Jacob
Pickerington Local Schools