National Teachers Hall of Fame induction to be televised

When Emporia language arts teacher Carol Strickland and four of her colleagues take their place in the National Teachers Hall of Fame, television audiences throughout central Kansas will be able to share the moment.

Wichita ABC TV affiliate KAKE will videotape the induction exercises Saturday night June 21 and broadcast the event the next day, June 22, at noon. Viewers will be able to see the 90-minute program on channel 10 in Wichita - as well as on KAKE satellite stations in Garden City and Colby, and numerous cable television systems, including Cable One in Emporia.

According to KAKE director of operations Patrick Myers, the idea of televising the hall of fame induction belongs to news anchor Larry Hatteberg. "He had emceed the event for several years and brought the hall of fame to my attention."

Myers began talks with induction director David Eldridge, who believes the program will help place the recognition of excellent teaching before a wider audience.

"Having television involved elevates the hall of fame's visibility and makes the induction a bit more special for the teachers and their families. It also gives Kansans the opportunity to see the quality of teaching that goes on in their children's classrooms," he said.

KAKE education reporter and weekend anchor Beth Jett will emcee the induction this year, which will be held at ESU's Albert Taylor Hall, June 21 at 7:15 p.m.

According to Meyers, the presence of television cameras should not be disruptive to the audience. "The way we've got it worked out, we're taping it straight through without any breaks. There won't be any interruptions in the induction ceremony at all," he said. "The only difference from other years will be that we'll have four cameras in the auditorium."

This year's inductees include:

• Ruth Ann Gaines, drama teacher at East High School in Des Moines, Iowa

• Cynthia A. Jones, third and fourth grade teacher at Cason Lane Academy in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

• Kathleen McGrath, fifth grade teacher at Saddlewood Elementary in Ocala, Fla.

• Larry Statler, special education teacher at Santa Teresa Elementary in San Jose, Calif.

• Carol P. Strickland, language arts teacher at Emporia High School in Emporia.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame was founded in Emporia, in 1989 to honor elementary and secondary teachers -- and the teaching profession through a recognition program and museum.

Nominees must be certified public or non-public schoolteachers, active or retired, with at least 20 years of experience in teaching grades preK-12.

The NTHF has been endorsed by every major professional educational organization. Annual induction recognition takes place in Washington, DC and Emporia, Kans.

The Kansas portion of the event includes community events, a historical lecture at a one-room schoolhouse, an induction ceremony, and tours of the surrounding prairie. A June 24 trip to Washington D.C. will include meetings with congressional delegations and representatives of the Dept. of Education as well as a public reception and banquet at the Decatur House starting at 5:45 p.m.

Since the inaugural induction ceremonies in 1992, 55 educators from 25 states have been inducted. This year's class of inductees represents the 12th anniversary of NTHF induction ceremonies. mall Business Development Center at 620-341-5308.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>