National Teachers Hall of Fame
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NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OF FAME

1995 INDUCTEES

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judy haller

Overland Park, KS | YEARS TAUGHT: 1969 - Present

School and community involvement are the keys to the success of Judy’s dropout prevention program for high-risk high school students. Haller has received more than $300,000 in grants over the past six years from sources such as NIKE and the A & E Network to develop a bird sanctuary on school grounds, taken 25 students on a plane trip to Chicago, and purchase Baby Think it Over Dolls, which aim to reduce the pregnancy/fatherhood rates among students. She has served as a member of the Discovery Channel VCR team.
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
  • ​1994      Dayton Teacher of the Year
  • 1992      Walt Disney American Teacher Award
  • 1992      Outstanding Professional Award from the National Organization of Student
    ​                Assistance and Partnerships
  • 1992      Presidential Point of Light Nominee
  • 1992      Computer Learning Institute Grand Prize Winner
  • 1992      Learning Magazine Professional Best
  • 1991      IBM
  • 1991      Ohio and Regional Teacher of the Year
  • 1987      Jennings Foundation Scholar
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michael kaiser

Buhler, KS | YEARS TAUGHT: 1990 - Present

Whether they like it or not, Michael’s students are his for life. This dedication and loyalty have brought success to his students and to Kaiser. Michael Kaiser has taught elementary school students in the Floyd County Schools since 1971. A fervent love and dedication to his students is what drives Kaiser. He has visited funeral homes, hospitals, student homes, and jails in order to keep the promise he makes to his students on the first day of class: “I care about you as a person and I will do everything in my power to help you be a success now or ten years from now. You are my students for life whether you like it or not.” Michael Kaiser earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana University-Southeast and completed post graduate hours at IU-Southeast, Purdue University, and the University of Southern Indiana.
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
  • 2006      Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship
  • 1998      National Presidential Science Awardee
  • 1995      Inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame
  • 1995      Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce Achievement in Education
  • 1994      Indiana’s National Christa McAuliffe Fellow
  • 1993      Disney Salutes the American Teacher—top five elem. Teachers in US
  • 1992      Indiana Teacher of the Year
  • 1992      U.S. Space Academy for Outstanding Educators
  • 1992      Sagamore of the Wabash—Indiana’s highest civilian award
  • 1992      Burger King’s National Excellence in Education Award
  • 1992      WHAS-TV ExCEL Award in Education
  • 1992      Citizen’s Fidelity Excellence in Education Award
  • 1992      New Albany-Floyd County Teacher of the Year
  • 1992      Indiana University Southeast:  “Alumni Spotlight”
  • 1990      LEARNING Magazine & Oldsmobile “Professional Best Leadership Award”
  • 1988      ​Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship
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thomas porton

bronx, NY  | Years Taught: 1969 - Present

Thomas believes that his most important teaching takes place outside the classroom and in the community. An English/drama teacher at James Monroe High School in the Bronx, New York, since 1970, Porton takes his students out of their impoverished neighborhoods and into the New York City metropolitan area both to learn and to teach. Porton created the “Monroe Eagle Players,” a community theater company that performs for audiences ranging from senior citizens, to day care youngsters, to the homeless. Porton’s innovative AIDS education project, includes student-written pamphlets about HIV prevention and transmission, “friendship grams” of support to those afflicted with AIDS and HIV, baskets of love to AIDS patients at local hospitals, and the AIDS VAN, Porton’s personal mini-van transformed into a mobile HIV/AIDS information center. Teen educators then perform street corner outreach throughout New York City. 
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
  • 1998       USA American Teacher Team Disney American Teacher Award
  • 1999      Readers Digest American Heroes in Education
  • 1997      U.S.-Russia-Ukraine Award for Excellence in Teaching, sponsored by ACTR/ACCELS
                    (trip to Russia in October, 1997)
  • 1996      “One City” Award from the Citizens Committee of New York City
  • 1996      “Creating Compassion: HIV/AIDS Peer Education” wins “Program of Excellence
                    Award” (the highest award for language arts in New York State) from New York
    ​                State English Council
  • 1996      State Farm Insurance “Good Neighbor Award”
  • 1995      Northern Life Insurance “Unsung Heroes” Award
  • 1994      Teacher of Excellence Award from the New York State Council of English Teachers
  • 1993      Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award
  • 1993      Human Relations Award form the National Council of Christians and Jews
  • 1991      Teacher of the Year by the Federation of Bronx Parents
  • 1988      Teacher of the Year by the Federation of Bronx Parents
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michael terrell

Louisville, ky | Years Taught: 1973 - Present

Michael has established more than 500 working business-educational partnerships to help disadvantaged students in Louisville, Kentucky, where he has taught grades K-3 in the Jefferson County Public School System. These partnerships have garnered over $2 million in donations. Terrell earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. He is the published author of several educational articles in professional journals, also publisher and editor of the nationwide “ParentShare” Newsletter.
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
  • 2008      Published author, non-fiction, “It’s All About You”
  • 2005      Champion for Children Award from City of Louisville
  • 2004      Excellence in Elementary Education from JCPS
  • 2003      Champion for Children Award from City of Louisville
  • 2002      Distinguished Elementary Educator Award from UNIV KY
  • 2000      Profiled Innovative Educator in NEA Today Magazine
  • 1999      ALL-USA Academic Teachers Team
  • 1999      JCPenney Golden Rule Award
  • 1999      AEGON Academic Teachers Award
  • 1998      Distinguished Elementary Educator Award from Murray State University
  • 1997      Congressional Honor in Education Award form U.S. Senate
  • 1997      Amgen Award for Teacher Excellence
  • 1997      Educational Excellence, President Clinton (also 1995, 1993)
  • 1996      Who’s Who Among American Teachers Inductee
  • 1996      Golden Apple Award, JCPS (1994,1993,1991,1990,1987)
  • 1995      National Teachers Hall of Fame Inductee
  • 1995      Walt Disney American Teacher Award
  • 1994      Distinguished Alumni Award from Western KY Univ.
  • 1993      Equal Ed. Opportunity Award from Indiana Univ.
  • 1993      Louisville Bell Award for Community Services
  • 1993      Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award from Ashland Oil Inc.
  • 1992      Distinguished Citizen Award from City of Louisville
  • 1991      Ed. Achievement Award from Jefferson County Public School
  • 1990      Citizen of the Month Lou. Chamber of Commerce
  • 1989      Schoolhouse Ed. Award, JCTA
  • 1989      Innovative Educator Award from KY ED. Television​
  • 1988      ​Excellence in Education Award, from JCPS
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marjorie west

lakewood, co | Years Taught: 1969 - present

In 1987, Marge West became the first blind teacher in Colorado to be allowed to continue to teach in the regular classroom with a guide dog, “Rush,” and full-time aide. West believes in the African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, and so works to encourage parental involvement and to build school/business partnerships. 
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
  • 1994      Colorado Teacher of the Year
  • 1994      National Teacher Hall of Fame finalist
  • 1994      National Teacher of the Year finalist
  • 1994      Valley Forge Teacher’s Medal of Excellence (National Award) awarded by the
    ​                Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge
  • 1988      Trailblazer Award for Honorary Alumna, University of Northern Colorado

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