Executive Director’s Report: Hall of Fame for teachers honors lives of service

7/12/05 -- What do Marilyn Barrueta, Randy Granger, John Mahoney, Karen Crow Roark, and Merle Saunders have in common? Passion, wit, commitment to children, a love of learning, and a love of their profession.

These five, the 2005 “inductees” to the National Teachers Hall of Fame, were honored in June at ceremonies in Emporia, Kan., where the hall of fame is located, and in Washington, D.C.

I was honored to serve as the chair of the board of trustees of the National Teachers Hall of Fame during the past year. This institution was created 14 years ago by Emporia State University, the university’s alumni association, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, and Unified School District 253 to recognize outstanding teachers, from public and private schools, who have been in the teaching profession for 20 years or more.

Here is some information on the latest inductees:

• Marilyn Barrueta has been a teacher for 48 years and has taught Spanish at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va., since 1978. She has received numerous awards during her career and served as a “distinguished educator” at the Governor’s School in Richmond, Va.

This is what one of Barrueta’s colleagues says about her: “Through the lens of her experience, she is able to examine and evaluate the most promising new research, techniques, and materials and integrate those new findings with the very best of her vast repertoire of highly effective classroom-tested activities.”

• Randy William Granger, head of visual arts at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, has taught at several public schools and at the university level since 1970. He was certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2000 and was named the 2005 Pennsylvania Art Educator of the Year.

Granger says “success-centered classrooms are built from an atmosphere of trust, tested expectations, and respect.” His teaching is based on the belief that “all things are possible, and intellectual and artistic growth can happen in individuals at any point in time.”

• John F. Mahoney teaches mathematics at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C.

He was named to USA Today’s All-USA Teacher Team in 2004 and has a “minor planet” named after him by MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory in recognition of mentoring a Banneker senior who placed ninth in the nationwide Intel Science Talent Search.

“In the hours before and after school, when most classrooms are quiet and the hallways deserted,” a colleague says, “John’s doors remain open as students, some who don’t even take his classes, seek extra help and guidance in math.”

• Karen Crow Roark, an assistant principal and resource teacher for gifted students at Long Branch Elementary School, in Arlington, Va., has taught for 23 years.

She was named Teacher of the Year in 2004 by the Staples Corp., was inducted into the Georgia Teacher Hall of Fame in 2003, was a Fulbright Scholar in 2001, and was certified by NBPTS in 2001.

A strong believer in lifelong learning, Roark “provides a warm, supportive environment in which her students are encouraged to think and apply their knowledge,” says her principal.

• Merle Saunders teaches automotive technology at Vale High School in Vale, Ore. Among his many honors: Radio Shack National Teacher of the Year, Milken Family Foundation National Educator, Ford National Instructor of the Year, and National Valvoline Automotive Teacher of the Year.

Saunders’ superintendent calls him “a master automotive technician who has the patience and gentle, prodding demeanor to nudge all his students to do their best.” A student says she loves coming to his class because “he is always excited about the subject he teaches, and when the teacher is excited, it makes the students excited to learn.”

As you can see, although these five outstanding teachers have much in common, they are quite different from one another. As I talked to each during the dinner in their honor at the beautifully restored Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building, I was struck by their near giddiness at the attention being paid to them by the National Teachers Hall of Fame and the assembled guests.

Earlier, during the induction activities, as the teachers entered the beautiful Hall of Fame building in Emporia, they were greeted with a kind of “this is your professional life” display, consisting of five giant kiosks dedicated to each of them, containing pictures and memorabilia collected from friends and colleagues.

The Hall of Fame activities in Emporia included a band concert in their honor, a community luncheon, an induction banquet and ceremony, and a series of seminars -- plus a “prairie experience” featuring a visit to a local ranch.

Each inductee also was given a cast bronze bell tower award, a signet ring from Herff Jones Inc., a $1,000 scholarship from Sodexho School Services for a student in the teacher’s home district, and $1,000 in education materials from the Pearson Learning Group.

Their trip to Washington, D.C., featured visits with members of Congress and Acting Deputy Education Secretary Ray Simon, as well as the dinner honoring them.

At the dinner, the National Teachers Hall of Fame gave an additional award to a “special friend of education,” former Education Secretary Richard Riley. His brief speech was superb, but even more meaningful, he and Mrs. Riley spent time with each inductee, taking photos and learning about their school and community.

I was especially proud that three of this year’s five winners are from my own community -- two from Arlington, Va., and one from Washington, D.C.

John Mahoney chose to teach math at a Washington public high school four years ago after spending nearly 25 years at the elite, private Sidwell Friends School. He, like the other four inductees, talked about his students in personal, developmental terms. John says his main role is being a teacher of high school students and sees mathematics as merely a vehicle for teaching his students.

As they spoke at the dinner, they all thanked the National Teachers Hall of Fame for the overwhelming recognition they had felt over the five days of events in Emporia and Washington. They remarked over and over how much all of the attention had meant, particularly their experience in Emporia, where it seemed to them that the entire town had shared in their celebration.

It struck me that, perhaps, we do not spend enough time recognizing the teachers and staff in our own schools who serve our children every day. We may not be able to give every member of our school district a signet ring, but we can recognize them more than we do.

We all know how important it is for children to celebrate their achievements. It’s just as important for adults.

All in all, the National Teachers Hall of Fame induction was a grand celebration of five teachers who would be the first to say that they were just ordinary teachers who worked in a profession that demanded a great deal but gave them joy and fulfillment.