National Teachers Hall of Fame officially enshrines 33rd class

The 33rd induction class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame officially joined the Hall Friday night.

At the official induction ceremonies at Emporia State’s Memorial Union Webb Hall, Michael Dunlea III, a fifth-grade teacher at Tabernacle, New Jersey, says teachers expand people’s minds.

Dr Camille Jones Ford, a middle school math teacher and department chair in Atlanta, Georgia, says the induction represents a career dedicated to the future.

Michelle Pearson, a social studies teacher at Thornton, Colorado, noted education as a whole, saying there are a lot of teachers worthy of the Hall that go unrecognized. She also says she lives by several core values, including the Golden Rule and the concept of “carpe diem” — but going beyond that.

Dr Pascale Creek Pinner, an eighth-grade science teacher from Hilo, Hawaii, likened teachers to superheroes.

Tom Jenkins, a retired STEM and science teacher in Greenon, Ohio, says his success is a shared effort.

Andy Markus, the assistant facilities manager at Draper Park Middle School in Draper, Utah, was this year’s Education Support Professional of the Year through the National Education Administration. He was unable to attend.

At Friday’s ceremonies, inductees received:

*A 10-karat gold rig from Herff Jones
*A cast bronze bell tower created by local sculptor John Forsythe
*A personalized print of a one-room schoolhouse by artist Greg Burns as provided by American Fidelity Assurance
*Official proclamations from the state of Kansas and the city of Emporia

Inductees had already received $20,000 from Canva, as did their respective schools, at their nationwide introduction on CBS Mornings last month.

Friday’s inductions capped off a busy week in Teachertown USA, including the rededication for the National Memorial to Fallen Educators earlier in the day. This year, nine people were honored, most from recent incidents and one from an incident almost 100 years ago.

*Annie Louise Keller, 25, teacher at Centerville (Illinois) Country School, killed by tornado debris on April 19, 1927.
*Christopher J. Trakimas, 61, boiler mechanic, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) School District, died May 18, 2016, after a workplace explosion.
*Nohema Graber, 66, Spanish teacher, Fairfield (Iowa) High School, killed Nov. 2, 2021.
*Kevin Garrison, 56, maintenance supervisor, Elkhorn (Nebraska) Public Schools, died Sept. 4, 2024, in a construction incident.
*Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 52, both math teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, killed in a school shooting on Sept. 4, 2024.
*Leah Seneng, 60, art teacher, Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, California, died Nov. 22, 2024, from a rabid bat bite sustained on school property.
*Erin M. West, 42, teacher, Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, died in a school shooting on Dec. 16, 2024.
*Carol L. Mendiola-Mooers, 48, school counselor, Bering Strait (Alaska) School District, died in a Feb. 7, 2025, plane crash en route to visit with students.

Activities this year also included a trivia night, historical tour, a trip to the Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, the Emporia Municipal Band Children’s Concert, proclamations from Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and the Emporia City Commission and an appearance on KVOE’s On-Air Chat.

Videos from Friday night