Late August brings a familiar mix of endings and beginnings. Summer fades, classrooms fill and football returns. As the preseason ends and a new season kicks off at Lambeau Field, a new school year is beginning for nearly one million Wisconsin students, with schools and educators preparing to welcome them back for the academic year.

To recognize the dedication of educators statewide, the Packers honored Wisconsin CESAs (Cooperative Educational Service Agencies) for the fifth annual Packers Give Back Game last week during the team's final preseason matchup. Each year, the Packers designate a preseason game to highlight the work of a Wisconsin nonprofit and amplify its mission before and during the game.

Wisconsin CESAs worked with the Packers to recognize hundreds of Wisconsin educators and staff for their commitment to preparing students for success in college, careers and life. Honorees from across the state received complimentary transportation, tickets, and food and beverage gift cards, with several taking the field during pregame activities to be recognized.

CESAs – nonprofit agencies that connect school districts with the state – provide services and resources to help school districts collaborate and improve educational outcomes. Wisconsin has 12 CESAs, including CESA 7, which serves the Green Bay region.

"(The Packers Give Back Game) is a fantastic opportunity to recognize all the hard work all our educators from across the state do each and every day for our students," said Aaron Malczewski, CESA 7 agency administrator. "(We're really) thankful for the Packers to recognize educators in this way."

Gratitude was a common theme among the more than 500 educators in attendance.

Fall Creek Elementary School counselor Jon Strand called the opportunity "a once-in-a-lifetime, special experience." Strand was one of the dozens of honorees who stood on legendary Lambeau Field prior to kickoff, greeted by the cheers of more than 71,000 fans.

While educators don't enter their profession expecting recognition, attendees emphasized their appreciation to the Packers for being celebrated in such a visible way.

Tracy Schmid, a special education teacher at Howards Grove High School, attended Saturday's game with her husband Dave, principal at Valders High School.

"What we do as educators sometimes is not recognized very often," she said. "(It's great) to know that (the Packers) see that we are valuable to our students and to kids."

Why, then, choose education if not for recognition or financial reward? For Strand, the answer is simple and shared by many colleagues: "My favorite part of working in education is the kids. They are our future and helping to shape that future is an honor," he said. "Each day is different, and you never know what you're going to get. Some of it is unbelievably good and some of it is unbelievably challenging. I enjoy work that keeps me on my toes."

In addition to the Packers Give Back Game, the organization also demonstrates its year-round commitment to education by hosting student leadership events, awarding grants for student-led projects and advancing literacy through a variety of community outreach initiatives.

For Sabrina Cairo, a special education teacher at East Middle School in the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, the opportunity to attend Saturday's celebration was particularly meaningful, as it marked her first game at Lambeau Field. "It's really exciting to me," Cairo said. "I never knew when I would come for my first game, so I'm really grateful for the experience to be able to come and actually get to see (the Packers play) live."

The day of football and gratitude concluded with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks, with the team and honored guests from across the state looking ahead to a promising year – on the field and in the classroom.