The Saskatchewan Ministry of Education has declared February 7th-13th as Teacher Staff Appreciation Week.

Horizon School Division Director of Education Kevin Garinger appreciates the Ministry's notion but he says they value their work all year.

"It is about each and everyday the invaluable and positive impact on the lives and development of our children that our staff are dedicated to that is most critical. We will continue that focus and this will be another opportunity to certainly recognize those people."

Garinger knows teachers get most of the credit but behind the scenes staff are just as crucial in every child's education.

"The secretaries in our schools are the first people you speak to when you call the schools or the first thing you see is the work that our caretakers do in our schools because of the way the school looks. Those people are every bit as important in the lives of our children as anyone."

Garinger explains his thoughts on this year's theme,  "creating learners for life."

"It's about the opportunity of our staff of course and to give them the tool kits they need but also then the support for our children as they move on into the world and become hopefully some of our employees and working with our kids down the road."

Teacher Staff Appreciation Week was introduced in 1988 by The Canadian Home and School Federation, a national organization of parents who volunteer for schools through Parent School Advisory Councils and Home and School Associations.

Saskatchewan has been recognizing the week for the past 29 years.

You can hear more from Garinger in his interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork below.