Press Release - Selection Committee

March 8, 2002/NTHF
CONTACT: Tes Mehring, 1-800-96TEACH

The National Teachers Hall of Fame Selection Committee to meet in Washington, D.C. March 26-27.

EMPORIA, Kan. -- Twenty-four individuals representing teachers, educatonal organizations, and corporate America will gather in Washington, D.C. to select the 11th class of inductees to The National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF). The Hall of Fame supports the teaching profession through a recognition program that honors five of the nation's most outstanding educators each year. Since 1992, fifty K-12 educators from 25 states have been inducted.

The 2002 National Selection Committee will meet Tuesday and Wednesday (March 26-27) at the Wyndham Washington, D.C. The Selection Committee will determine the five teachers who will be inducted into The National Teachers Hall of Fame during recognition activities in Washington, D.C. and Emporia, Kansas July 9-13, and also will name up to 10 finalists. Public announcement of the five 2002 inductees will be made on May 7, National Teacher Day.

A Screening Committee completed its work in February and reduced the field of cnadidates to 39. The semi-finalists being considered by the National Selection Committee represents 17 states and include Disney, Milken, and State Teacher of the Year award winners as well as numerous teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Of the 30 females and 9 males being considered, ten are elementary level, five middle school, and 16 high school teachers. Eight others cross the grade boundaries.

According to Dr. Tes Mehring, NTHF Interim President, "This country has many more outstanding teachers than we can recognize each year. Through our recognition program, we celebrate education and honor five teachers. By recognizing them, we are really honoring all of the nation's outstanding career teachers and the entire teaching profession."

Representing NTHF members on the Selection Committee will be Ida Daniel Dark, Durham, NC, Class of 1993, and James Quinlan, Vernon Township High Schook, Vernon, NJ, Class of 2001.

Additional members of the 2002 National Selection Committee and the organizations they represent include:

  • Karen Adams, Bowling Green, KY - American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE)
  • Sharon Cannon, Arlington, VA - American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
  • Merri Mann, Miami Beach, FL - American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
  • Stephany Johnson, Downers Grove, IL - Aramark ServiceMaster
  • Gail Clark Dickson, Alexandria, VA - Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
  • Lynn Montgomery, Reston, VA - Association of Teacher Educators (ATE)
  • Beth Buehlmann, Washington, DC - Center for Workforce Preparation, US Chamber of Commerce
  • Mike Casserly, Washington, DC - Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS)
  • Jeff Archer, Bethesda, MD - Education Week
  • Vince Petroy, Pittsburgh, PA - Herff Jones, Inc.
  • Keith Geiger, Warrenton, VA - Jones Institute for Educational Excellence
  • Alan Michelson, Blue Springs, MO - National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
  • Arthur Linder, Washington, DC - National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
  • Sally Mernissi, Alexandria, VA - National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
  • Beverly Ingle, Aurora, CO - National Education Association (NEA)
  • Theresa Hinkle, Greensboro, NC - National Middle School Association (NMSA)
  • Paula McKann, Washington, DC - National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA)
  • Dottie Gray, Alexandria, VA - National School Board Association (NSBA)
  • Ken Weir, Hatboro, PA - National School Publications Relations Association (NSPRA)
  • Edna Rogers, Sevierville, TN - National State Teachers of the Year (NSTOY)
  • Nancy Winship, Glenview, IL - Scott Foresman
  • Laura Gorton, Aurora, IL - Successories