Last month, National Teachers Hall of Fame Director Maddie Fennell said the Hall would start a new fundraising campaign this year to expand the National Memorial to Fallen Educators.
The campaign officially launches Wednesday.
Fennell says the memorial is at capacity with the names of 189 teachers, school staffers and administrators killed in the line of duty throughout our country’s history. Twelve need to be added — which creates the basis for the brand-new 12 for 12 campaign. People can donate once at $12, once at $144 or make monthly $12 donations. The goal is to raise $25,000, or about half of the at least $50,000 needed to create the latest memorial granite book. Individual donations are being sought, as are corporate matching donations.
The campaign is tentatively set to end April 3. More information is available at nthf.org/memorial and on social media with the #12for12 hashtag.
Fennell will be on the KVOE Newsmaker 2 segment at 8:20 am Monday with more information.
The list of educators to be inscribed includes:
*Annie Louise Keller, 25, teacher at Centerville Country School (IL), killed by tornado debris on April 19, 1927.
*Diane Peterson, 26, English teacher at Branham High School (CA), killed in a stabbing at school on June 16,1978.
*Christopher J. Trakimas, 61, boiler mechanic, Philadelphia School District (PA), died May 18, 2016, after a workplace explosion.
*Nohema Graber, 66, Spanish teacher, Fairfield High School (IA), killed by two students on Nov. 2, 2021.
*Dan Marburger, 56, Principal at Perry High School (IA), killed from a school shooting on January 14, 2024.
*Ryan Lantz, 52, journalism teacher at Liberty High School (WV), died from a traffic accident in a school parking lot on February 20, 2024
*Kevin Garrison, 56, maintenance supervisor, Elkhorn Public Schools (NE), died Sept. 4, 2024, in a construction incident.
*Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 52, both math teachers at Apalachee High School (GA), killed in a school shooting on Sept. 4, 2024. *Leah Seneng, 60, art teacher, Bryant Middle School (CA), died Nov. 22, 2024, from a rabid bat bite sustained on school property.
*Erin M. West, 42, teacher, Abundant Life Christian School (WI), died in a school shooting on Dec. 16, 2024.
*Carol Mendiola Mooers, 48, school counselor in Unalakleet, AK was killed in a commuter plane crash while traveling to Nome to pick up students for college tours on February 6, 2025.
