The 34th class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame was officially enshrined Saturday evening on the campus of Emporia State University.
The annual induction banquet saw the addition of five world-class educators, including mathematics teacher Margaret “Peg” Cagle of Reseda, California, whose career in the classroom has spanned more than four decades. In her remarks, Cagle thanked and “applauded” the National Teachers Hall of Fame “For recognizing and responding to the need to uplift the whole teacher and, by extension, the teaching profession as a whole,” just as educators serve to uplift the whole child.
Dr. Melyssa Ferro, a middle school science teacher from Caldwell, Idaho, has spent 25 years in the classroom and credited her success to the support and care of others, utilizing a quote by Sir Isaac Newton to illustrate their impact on her life.
High school social studies teacher at East Orange STEM Academy in East Orange, New Jersey, Theresa Maughn shared the story of her family, who immigrated from Belize in Central America and would eventually face deportation once her father’s visa expired. Rather than allowing it to happen, Maughn’s community rallied around her family with unwavering support, a level of support she and her community and family strive to give to her students each day, with Maughn calling education “A partnership.”
In describing her career, Carla Neely of Cleveland, Ohio, a nearly 30-year middle school science and social studies teacher, stated that when it comes to her approach to education, she does not simply teach curriculum; she teaches belief.
When asked by others why he dedicated his life to the teaching profession, middle school math, science and gifted teacher for the US Department of Defense Education Activity in Japan, Dr. Michael Anthony Pope responds by saying, “I am in the business of possibilities.”
Also honored Saturday, but unable to attend the festivities, was the 2026 National Education Association’s Support Professional of the Year, Ric Calhoun, a campus supervisor, football coach and union leader at Northshore School District in Washington state. The inductees, as well as the other finalists considered for this year’s Hall of Fame class, will now make their way to Orlando, Florida, for the inaugural education summit, which will take place June 29th through July 1.
The full induction ceremony is available for viewing on the NTHF YouTube channel.
Saturday’s induction ceremony culminated a week’s worth of activities celebrating this year’s class, including the annual rededication of the National Memorial to Fallen Educators, which took place inside the Visser Hall atrium Saturday morning.
