Press Release - Selection Committee

February 19, 2003/NTHF
CONTACT: Tes Mehring, 1-800-96TEACH

The National Teachers Hall of Fame Selection Committee to meet in Washington, D.C. March 12-13.

EMPORIA, Kan. -- Seventeen individuals representing teachers, educatonal organizations, and corporate America will gather in Washington, D.C. to select the 12th 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-five K-12 educators from 25 states have been inducted.

The 2003 National Selection Committee will meet Wednesday and Thursday (March 12-13) 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 June 19-25, and also will name up to 10 finalists. Public announcement of the five 2003 inductees will be made on April 22.

A Screening Committee completed its work in February and reduced the field of candidates to 40. The semi-finalists being considered by the National Selection Committee represents 25 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 26 females and 14 males being considered, nine are elementary level, eight middle school, and twenty high school teachers. Three 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 Renee O'Leary, Newark, DE, Class of 1994, and Lisa Zahn Crooks, Prairie Village, KS, Class of 2002.

Additional members of the 2003 National Selection Committee and the organizations they represent include:

  • Dr. Mary Williams, Fairfax, VA - American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE)
  • Sharon Cannon, Arlington, VA - American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
  • Julie Blair, Silver Spring, MD - Education Week
  • Felice Nudelman, New York, NY - The New York Times
  • Kirk Shryoc, Indianapolis, IN - Herff Jones, Inc.
  • Keith Geiger, Warrenton, VA - Former NEA President
  • Joyce Lanier, Midlothian, VA - National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
  • Arthur Linder, Washington, DC - National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
  • David Lussier, Arlington, VA - National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
  • Josephine Zbylut-Birky, Omaha, NE- National Middle School Association (NMSA)
  • Frank Hatfield, Shepherdsville, KY- National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA)
  • Karla Schultz, 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)
  • Shirley Samuels, Glenview, IL - Scott Foresman
  • Renee O'Leary, Newark, DE - NTHF Class of 1994
  • Lisa Zahn Crooks, Prairie Village, KS - NTHF Class of 2002