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National Teachers Hall of Fame Induction Week Begins Monday

National Teachers Hall of Fame inductees: from left, Rebecca Hamilton, Erick Hueck, Caryn Long, Kristen Record and Monica Washington

The five career teachers in the National Teachers Hall of Fame Class of 2023 arrive in Emporia on Monday, June 12, for a week of activities that culminate in their induction into the hall. Several events later in the week are open to the public. This is the 31st year for the NTHF induction ceremonies.

The dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, June 16, which is immediately before the ceremony, induction banquet and ceremony requires reservations by Friday (June 9). Individual tickets cost $50. A table of six can be purchased for $250. Please contact the National Teachers Hall of Fame by Friday, June 9 at 620-341-5660 to reserve.

The five members of the Class of 2023 are:

  • Dr. Rebecca Hamilton, 11th and 12th grade English and Advanced Placement Capstone Seminar and Research teacher at Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, Florida;
  • Dr. Erick Hueck, 9th-12th grade Chemistry and Advanced Placement Chemistry teacher at Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida;
  • Dr. Caryn Long, sixth grade STEM teacher and Director of Educational Technology and Innovation at Monteverde Academy in Montverde, Florida;
  • Kristen Record, 9th-12th grade Physics and Advanced Physics teacher at Frank Scott Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut; and
  • Monica Washington, 11th grade English teacher at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texarkana.

The events open to the public are:

  • Book signing. Dr. Stu Ervay, author of “The Teacher as Somebody: Skills That Make Teaching a True Profession” and “The New Learning Infrastructure,” Skillet Atrium in Visser Hall, 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 14.
  • Emporia Trivia Challenge. Inductees and Emporia teams compete, Lyon County History Center, third floor, 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 14.
  • Children’s Learning Program. Co-sponsored with the Emporia Public Library and supported by grant from the St. Patrick’s Day Committee, for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, Skillet Atrium in Visser Hall, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 15.
  • Forum for teachers, paraeducators and substitute teachers, Visser Hall 330, 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 15.
  • Forum for superintendents and principals, Visser Hall 330, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15.
  • Haught and Cold Event. Ice cream and Municipal Band concert, Fremont Park, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 15.
  • Dedication of Gertrude Edens statue. One Room Schoolhouse on ESU campus, 9 a.m. Friday, June 9.
  • Rededication of the National Memorial to Fallen Educators. ESU campus, 10 a.m. Friday, June 9.
  • Induction banquet. Webb Hall in ESU’s Memorial Union, 6 p.m. Friday, June 16 (reservations required by June 9).
  • Induction ceremonies. Webb Hall in ESU’s Memorial Union, 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 16.

During their time in Emporia, the 2023 inductees will also share a history tour with Roger Heineken on Tuesday, appear on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia and and present a roundtable webinar on Wednesday.