Unlocking Respect for Teachers: The power of shared values

Teaching is one of the most vital professions in the world, yet it’s often misunderstood and undervalued. People outside the classroom might see long holidays but miss the long hours, or assume teaching is an easy gig without understanding the massive responsibility of shaping the next generation. Changing how society sees teachers requires more than facts and figures—it requires a connection to what people care about most.

That connection comes through shared values.

Recently, at the Park Plains East Teachers’ Conference in Wainwright, Alberta, I shared insights from a Valuegraphics study about the community. This research revealed three values that over-index for the people teachers are trying to reach: Basic Needs, Financial Security, and Experiences. These values give educators a powerful way to engage with their communities, helping them see the vital role teachers play in making everything work.

Why Shared Values Matter

Values are the secret drivers of everything we do. They’re the invisible force behind every decision, every choice, every behavior. If you know what people value, you know how to connect with them.

That’s what the Valuegraphics Database is all about. With nearly a million surveys from people all over the world, it has pinpointed 56 core human values that unite us. These values are far more powerful than demographics. Demographics tell us what people are—age, gender, income, education—but values tell us who they are.

When we focus on shared values, we see people in a new way. We stop guessing what matters to them and start engaging with what they care about most. For teachers in Wainwright, understanding the values of their community is the key to changing minds and hearts.

The Power Values of This Community

The Valuegraphics study revealed three values that matter most to people in the Park Plains East region. These values are the guideposts teachers can use to explain why their work matters to everyone.

1. Basic Needs

What It Means: People care deeply about the essentials that keep society running.

How Teachers Can Use It: Education is a cornerstone of any functioning community. Teachers prepare students to take on vital roles—nurses, builders, farmers, business leaders—and provide the foundation for every other profession. By showing how education supports these critical needs, teachers can connect their work to what people see as fundamental.

2. Financial Security

What It Means: Long-term stability and economic health are top priorities.

How Teachers Can Use It: Strong schools fuel a strong economy. Teachers can highlight how education leads to skilled workers, higher incomes, and thriving businesses. Sharing data or stories about the link between great schools and economic growth helps show why investing in education benefits everyone.

3. Experiences

What It Means: People value shared moments that bring them closer to others.

How Teachers Can Use It: Classrooms are about more than academics—they’re places where students learn how to connect with others and belong. Teachers can share stories of teamwork, creativity, and inclusion to show how they foster community and prepare students to succeed together.

Let’s Rethink How We See Teachers

Teachers don’t just work in schools. They create the foundation for communities to grow and thrive. By using shared values to communicate their role, they can help people see this clearly and feel it deeply.

The data is clear: when we engage people through their values, we connect with them in a way that drives understanding, respect, and support. For educators in Wainwright and beyond, the values of Basic Needs, Financial Security, and Experiences are the key to reshaping the conversation about teaching.

Let’s change how we talk about teachers by talking about what matters to the people they serve. Shared values can change perceptions, inspire action, and ensure that teaching gets the recognition it deserves.

Because when we lead with values, we don’t just change minds—we build stronger communities, one conversation at a time.

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