Press Release - Announcement

5 to be inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame


EMPORIA, KANSAS — Five teachers from Washington to Virginia recently found out they’ve been selected for induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in a series of surprise announcements.

Representatives from The National Teachers Hall of Fame and its corporate sponsors joined state and local educational leaders at an assembly or reception in each inductee’s school district to make the announcement.

This year’s inductee class includes:

  • Peggy Carlisle, a 3rd and 4th grade Science and Mathematics teacher in Jackson, Mississippi.
  • Pat S. Graff, a high school Journalism/Humanities/Social Student teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Floyd Holt, a high school Physics teacher in Hyde Park, New York.
  • Harlan Kredit, a high school Science teacher in Lynden, Washington
  • Linda Kaye White, an elementary Music teacher in Falls Church, Virginia

The selected teachers will travel to Emporia, Kansas and Washington D.C. June 16-20 for a series of induction events. The story of their careers will be on permanent display at The National Teachers Hall of Fame gallery in Emporia. Additionally, they receive gifts and mementos, including:

  • A $1,000 college scholarship presented by Sodexho School Services to a student in their district pursing a degree in teaching.
  • $1,000 in educational materials from Pearson Education.
  • A signet ring and lapel pin presented by Herff Jones, Inc. (Indianapolis, Ind.)

The National Teachers Hall of Fame was founded in Emporia, Kan. 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.

Since the inaugural induction ceremonies in 1992, 70 educators from 29 states and the District of Columbia have been inducted. This year's class of inductees represents the 15th anniversary of NTHF induction ceremonies.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame induction is sponsored this year by Sodexho School Services, The New York Times Knowledge Network, Pearson Education and Herff Jones, Inc.

Biographies of the five teachers are posted at www.nthf.org. To request biographies, please call the Hall of Fame at 1-800-96-TEACH or 620-341-9131. A list of current Hall of Fame members, a fact sheet and schedules for the 15th Annual Induction may be found on the web site or by calling the Hall of Fame.