Fundraising is now underway as the National Memorial to Fallen Educators looks to expand.
The memorial won’t be expanding its footprint at Emporia State University’s one-room schoolhouse, but it will add to the number of granite memorial stones. National Teachers Hall of Fame Director Carol Strickland says recent deaths of teachers and staffers will fill the two current books with more teachers yet to add to account for those killed over the past 12 months.
Strickland, a Morning Show guest this week, says a $17,000 down payment is needed to start the process. The final cost is around $35,000. With the re-dedication ceremony taking place June 21 as part of the annual Teachers Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and with a 12- to 14-week turnaround time, Strickland says there is no way a stone can be ready for the induction activities next month.
The move to expand the memorial to honor pre-kindergarten through high school teachers and staff comes as the memorial is also researching higher education records for similar honors at the site down the road.
The National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers are helping the fundraising effort. Strickland is encouraging the community to help as well. For more information, call the Hall of Fame at 341-5660 or go online to www.nthf.org. All donations are tax-deductible.
