Washington DC Recognition Week

President Obama with Tony Mullen, 2009 National Teacher of the Year

All State Teachers of the Year are being honored this week in Washington DC and the highlights have been the private reception at Vice President's Joe Biden's home hosted by his amazing wife, Dr. Jill Biden. She "gets teachers" as she is a current teacher and actually returned to her classroom just 4 days after the election. WOW!!! (The STOY's are now big fans of Dr. Biden as you can see when you watch the video of us when she comes out for our recognition at the Rose Garden). So...that brings me to the BIG EVENT - The White House!!!

Getting ready for a group shot with the President and his wife

We were individually recognized in the Rose Garden and then President Obama introduced the National Teacher the Year, Tony Mullen from Connecticut. It was a surreal experience meeting and shaking the hands of Michelle Obama (who got almost more of a welcome than her husband), Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Dr. Biden, and of course, the President! We stood on the steps behind the President and Tony as they addressed the crowd, media, and STOY's. You can barely see me, but if you look closely, I am standing directly behind Arne Duncan - over his right shoulder at the very end of the second row. Good luck finding me. It was broadcast live on C-Span.

The President took the time to personally thank us and shake each of our hands.

I was amazed how much media were there that follow the President around plus some memories such as the security, social secretary (who was very gracious), Secret Service, waiter wearing white gloves who brought out bottled water for the President on a silver platter, the teleprompters, the Oval Office, one of us falling off the steps into the bushes, one of us losing a button (and using gum to hold the jacket together), and one of us tripping as we walked out.
However, all of that will fade from my memory but Tony's message must continue with all of us: Passion, Professionalism, and Perseverance. The one that continues to resonate with me is Perseverance. In the times of budget cuts, teachers having to take on more work, more students without lowering expectations, we must persevere. Teachers must never give up on students, seek out the students that need us most, be THEIR voice, THEIR advocate and PERSEVERE - it is what Tony challenges us to do. Do you accept his challenge? I do!

Me on the steps of the White House with the Oval Office behind me.