Elevation, celebration and expansion of the National Teachers Hall of Fame’s reputation are all key focal points for its new executive director Dr. Ralph Draper.
Dr. Draper, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, was announced as the new executive director Thursday afternoon on the Emporia State University campus. Draper is a former educator who spent 26 years in the Texas school system as a classroom teacher, building principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent before his retirement in 2014.
Since 2017 Draper has served on the NTHF Board of Trustees, including serving as the vice-chair in 2022. He says he is honored to be serving as the new executive director noting that he fell in love with the hall of fame after attending his first induction ceremony years ago.
In addition to taking over the role of executive director, Draper will also serve as the hall’s national development officer who will focus on fostering partnerships, fundraising and elevating the hall of fame’s status at the national level. Draper says the Hall of Fame has made great strides in this effort in recent years, however, he believes it is still a “well-kept secret” nationally.
Draper says the education profession is one that deserves to be elevated above all others, and he plans to work diligently to ensure the Hall of Fame receives the recognition it deserves.
As part of his overall plan, Draper hopes to split the responsibilities of the executive director and national development officer in the coming years.
Draper replaces interim director Ken Weaver who has overseen operations of the Hall of Fame since the retirement of longtime director Carol Strickland last June.
