The National Teachers Hall of Fame is taking center stage in Emporia over the next week.
Induction activities begin Monday, with inductees arriving in town before an introduction dinner at Bobby D’s Monday evening. The schedule between Tuesday and Friday is jam-packed as the Hall of Fame honors the best of the best in education.
Hall of Fame Director Maddie Fennell is overseeing her first induction process.
The activity schedule can be found below.
Activities end Friday, and once that schedule comes to a close, there will be a greater emphasis on the Hall’s long-term future. The Hall of Fame has developed a “Vision to Unlock the Future,” which includes five key initiatives. Fennell says part of this process involves 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.” There have been concerns about the Hall’s overall future and its local future, but Fennell says the Hall will move forward and Emporia will maintain its role of being the Hall’s home.
This year’s inductees are:
*Middle school music teacher Keith Ballard of San Diego, California
*Middle school history teacher Terry Kaldhusdal of Dousman, Wisconsin
*High school English language arts teacher Shelly Moore Krajacic of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
*Former English success coach and current assistant principal Keishia Thorpe of Springdale, Maryland
*Retired high school chemistry teacher Joel Truesdell of Kea’au, Hawaii — will arrive in Emporia on Monday.
Also honored will be the 2024 Education Support Professional of the year, paraeducator Jen Bramson of Park City, Utah.
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NTHF event schedule
Monday
*All day: Inductee arrival
*6 pm: Introduction dinner, Bobby D’s
Tuesday
*9:15-10:45 am: All Things NTHF, Hall of Fame office and museum
*11 am: City Commission meeting
*11:45 am: Lunch, Radius Brewing
*1-4 pm: Emporia tour led by Roger Heineken
*4:30 pm: Lyon County History Center tour
*5:30 pm: Welcome dinner, Lyon County History Center
*8 pm: Wine and Trivia Challenge
Wednesday
*10 am: KVOE ON-Air Chat interview
*11:30 am: Lunch
Thursday
*10 am: Roundtable, ESU Visser Hall
*Noon: Lunch, ESU Visser Hall
*1:30-2:30 pm: Podcast, ESU Visser Hall
*5 pm: Dinner
*7-9 pm: Parade, Emporia Municipal Band concert, ice cream social, Fremont Park
Friday
*10 am: National Memorial to Fallen Educators rededication, Emporia State University
*Noon: Lunch
*4 pm: Photo shoot, ESU Visser Hall
*5:30-9:30 pm: Banquet and induction ceremony, ESU Memorial Union Webb Lecture Hall
Post-induction reception follows at Holiday Inn Express
