For nearly a decade, the National Teachers Hall of Fame has seen tremendous expansion both within its ranks but also its notoriety on a national level.
Much of the credit for that expansion goes to the hall of fame’s retiring executive director Carol Strickland. Strickland, a career classroom teacher and 2003 hall of fame inductee, stepped into the director’s position in 2013 replacing former director Phil Bennett.
Strickland says when she stepped into the role it was a very turbulent time for the hall of fame.
During her tenure, Strickland has helped to oversee the creation and designation of the Memorial to Fallen Educators as a national memorial and played an integral role in fostering partnerships with both the Pegasus Springs and College Football Playoff Foundations. During Friday’s installment of the Talk of Emporia, Strickland reflected on her career and path to the hall of fame.
During that time, 2018 hall of fame inductee Bradley Upshaw called in and offered his gratitude to Strickland saying she helped show him the importance of being an ambassador for the education profession.
Hall of fame co-founder Mark Andrews says Strickland exits her role having set the hall up for great success in the future.
Though she is retiring from her day-to-day responsibilities, Strickland will still be serving the hall of fame in an advisory capacity to assist with the transition to a new permanent executive director. A national search is currently underway for a new permanent director.
In the meantime, Dr. Ken Weaver is serving as director on an interim basis.
