Nephron Pharmaceuticals is acknowledging the role of teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week.

“In the midst of this crisis, teachers have stepped up, making sure our children don’t miss a beat,” said owner and CEO Lou Kennedy on Facebook.

“We are grateful for the sacrifices our teachers make, and we want to thank them for their great work at Nephron!”

West Columbia-based Nephron announced last July it was paying teachers $21 an hour for much needed auxiliary support of company operations.

Nephron’s mission is to provide secondary income to the teachers while helping Nephron fill and complete orders. More than 650 teachers work at Nephron.

Educators work in an area of the company that serves US hospitals and surgery centers with their drug shortage needs. The teachers help Nephron complete orders faster.