The National Teachers Hall of Fame has formally inducted its Class of 2024.
This year’s class:
*Middle school music teacher Keith Ballard of San Diego, California
*Middle school history teacher Terry Kaldhusdal of Dousman, Wisconsin
*Former English success coach and current assistant principal Keishia Thorpe of Springdale, Maryland
*High school English language arts teacher Shelly Moore Krajacic of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
*Retired high school chemistry teacher Joel Truesdell of Hilo, Hawaii
*Education Support Professional of the Year, paraeducator Jen Bramson of Park City, Utah
Krajacic says she learns from her students as much as she teaches.
Kaldhusdal says the induction lets him thank and promote.
Ballard says his experience energizes him regularly.
Thorpe says the induction gives her a wider reach for “planting seeds.”
Truesdell says he could have taught at different education levels at several times in his career.
Bramson says part of the reason she got into education was her experience as a child — although not, perhaps, in the way one might think.
Earlier in the day, the Hall also rededicated the National Memorial to Fallen Educators, recognizing almost 200 educators killed in the line of duty throughout America’s history. Specifically honored this year:
*Dan Marburger, principal at Perry (Iowa) High School, died Jan. 14, 10 days after he confronted a 17-year-old with a gun. His action was a distraction that allowed students to flee the school cafeteria. One student died and two other staff members and four students were wounded.
*Liberty High School teacher and coach Ryan Lantz in Clarksburg, West Virginia, was hit by a vehicle and killed in the school parking lot on Feb. 20.
Marburger’s widow, Elizabeth, says Dan saved lives.
The Hall of Fame’s attention now turns to education of another sort — a national push to let more people know about its existence. Recently, the Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees developed a “Vision to Unlock the Future,” which includes five key initiatives led by a redesign of the Hall’s website, nthf.org, while enhancing the Hall’s online and social media presence. Part of that also includes “reimagining” the museum and “illuminating” the history of American education. The plan also includes a major fundraising and development campaign, an effort to expand outreach and additional work to “harness the remarkable talents of our inductees.”
*Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including excerpts from Friday night’s induction speeches.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
