Induction ceremonies are now in high gear for this year’s class of honorees through the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
After tours of the city Tuesday, the inductees came to the KVOE studios for the now-annual Talk of Emporia interview, with the conversation revolving around what got them into education, what it means to be ambassadors for the profession and their reactions to their respective inductions.
Caryn Long of Montverde, Florida, says a career as Wonder Woman “didn’t work out.” She considered a career as a broadcaster until the Challenger space shuttle disaster when she was a sophomore in college. After getting her parents’ blessing, she immediately fell in love with education as her calling.
Kristen Record of Stratford, Connecticut, grew up in a family of educators, so she had to determine whether she wanted to get into education because of her own experiences or to please her family. She also found out she was good at research.
Eric Hueck of Miami, Florida, says several of his fellow students now work alongside him.
Monica Washington of Texarkana, Texas, recalls being drawn to teaching at an early age — thanks to her mom, who fostered her love of reading through trips to the nearby library or bookstore.
Rebecca Hamilton of Riviera Beach, Florida, says she represents a lot of other quality teachers, both in her building and across the country.
Click here to hear the full program.
The schedule remains busy through the actual induction ceremonies Friday night.
*Thursday has a children’s learning program at 10 am at the Visser Hall atrium, in partnership with the Emporia Public Library and St. Patrick’s Committee; as well as a forum involving teachers, substitute teachers and paraprofessionals at 1 pm at Visser Hall Room 330, a separate forum with administrators at 2:30 pm, also at Visser 330; and the annual Emporia Municipal Band concert at 8 pm at Fremont Park. Root beer floats are available to the first 200 attendees at 7 pm, courtesy of Steve Haught.
*Friday’s schedule includes the dedication of a new statue and display at Emporia State’s one-room schoolhouse at 9 am, followed by the annual rededication of the National Memorial to Fallen Educators at 10 — available live on KVOE-TV at KVOE.com — and the annual induction ceremonies officially beginning at 7:30 pm at the Memorial Union Webb Hall.
