National Teacher of the Year White House Event
Last week I had the honor of watching President Obama present Sara Brown Wessling of Iowa with the 2010 National Teacher of the Year Award at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. Wessling teaches English to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. I was especially moved by a quote from one of her students saying that in her class there was, “no discussion fruitless, no assignment pointless, and not one day was boring.”
That is so much a part of what we try to do with our People to People Ambassador Programs; to create amazing People to People moments of excitement, learning, connection, and introspection. We want to help students become better educated and better prepared for the future via a greater global connection.
Sara Brown Wessling is one of those inspirational teachers along with the three finalists: Megan Marie Allen of Tampa, Florida; Robert L. Stephenson of East Lansing, Michigan; and Kelly A. Kovacic of La Joya, California. I feel so proud of these teachers as well as all the outstanding nominees.
This is why People to People Ambassador Programs became a program sponsor for the prestigious National Teacher of the Year. It was my first visit to the White House, and it was unbelievably exciting to be on the grounds. We attended the ceremony along with Mary Eisenhower, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit People to People International. She had many interesting stories of spending time there with her grandfather, President Dwight Eisenhower, and pointing out changes to the grounds in the years since.
Rafer Johnson, Ambassadors Group Inc. board member and 1960 Olympic gold medalist, came with us as well, and he recalled being at the White House many times during the Kennedy administration. It was fascinating to hear the stories from the past and along with the experience of being there ourselves.
What a wonderful day! One of the key goals of our organization is to bring learning to life, and it is such an honor to spend time with these wonderful teachers who accomplish just that every day. As the president of a global educational travel company and a mother myself, I am simply in awe of what they do. Honoring great teachers is such an important message to them and to our nation.
A couple of weeks ago, we held a leadership conference for our teacher leaders, and I had the opportunity to talk to them about the challenges they face in their jobs, keeping learning fresh and exciting for students. At People to People Ambassador Programs, we believe that the more cultural experiences you have, the more you can share with your students for better impact on their futures. We have trained over 5,000 teachers to lead educational travel experiences, including former national teacher of the year nominees and recipients. I spoke with many of the state teachers of the year about how to get them involved in our programs.
2010 Travel Season Kick-Off
We are about to kick off the 2010 summer travel season, heading to more than 47 countries on all seven continents. We’re excited to begin the season this year, and our teachers are such an important part of our success. Their passion, commitment and effort help give each of our student travelers a life-changing experience.
We believe there is no better job than one that expands the horizons of young people, helping them gain a global perspective to better compete in the world while developing long-lasting friendships and memories.
Wishing you success in fulfilling your own dreams,
Peg Thomas
President, People to People Ambassador Programs
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