John Harclerode selected for Kansas teachers' Hall of Fame
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Emporia High School science teacher John Harclerode is one of seven educators who will be inducted into the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame in June. His selection for the Class of 2008 was announced today at EHS. The award recognizes exemplary K-12 educators who have been in the profession at least 25 years in Kansas.
Harclerode has taught at EHS for his entire 34-year career and he is the current science department chairman. He has received many awards for his teaching, including the Kansas Master Teacher Award, Emporia Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Award, Outstanding Science Teacher in Kansas, University of Kansas Outstanding Teacher three years, and the EHS Most Inspirational Teacher three years.
During his career, he has been active in district curriculum development and professional-development activities. He was a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation participant in 2002. He has been active in the National Education Association at the local, state and national levels. Harclerode has been involved in local scouting activities and his church.
In his nomination, he wrote the following philosophy of teaching: “As students enter my classroom, they soon find out that I believe they are all important. They all have contributions and experiences that will make our class exciting and unique. I’m there to guide them through the material being studied and to help them understand that what they are learning does not stand alone. It is interrelated with many other disciplines.
“Schools today must help prepare students for an ever-changing, technological society. We as educators must be facilitators in the classroom helping students investigate and explore new areas as well as become efficient problems solvers.”
Harclerode was nominated for the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame by Steven Mechels, a former colleague at EHS now working as an environmental scientist for the Departments of the Army and Air Force.
“John is an extremely competent and caring teacher and fully deserving of this award,” Mechels wrote. “I was lucky enough to also be a teacher on one of John’s summer biology courses. The caring and devotion he showed for the students was apparent throughout the trip.”
Harclerode will be inducted into the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame on June 7 in Dodge City. Also in the Class of 2008 will be Deputy Commissioner of Education Dale Dennis.
Information about the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame and the Induction Ceremony is available by calling Carol Sweeney at the Southwest Plains Regional Service Center, (800) 728-1022.
hjcary (anonymous) says...
Congratulations Mr. Harclerode! You were a very good teacher and I was very impressed that you remembered me when we bumped into each other at Staples last summer. It had been 13years since you had seen me and you still knew my name.
I am glad to see you honored.
April 2, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tosie (anonymous) says...
You are awesome Mr. Harclerode! You were one of my favorite teachers and I enjoyed A&P so much! You definitely deserve this honor.
April 2, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
You were definitely one of my favorite teachers as well! I never thought I would go into the health care field until I took A&P. But after that class I decided that I would.
April 2, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhughs (anonymous) says...
Congratulations! You were one of my favorite teachers and made A&P enjoyable! You deserve the honor.
April 2, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shihtzulvr (anonymous) says...
It has been 18 years since I was in A&P with Mr. Harclerode and he still remembers me. He is one of the best teachers I ever had and very deserving of this honor. Way to go Harc!
April 2, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Shawna (anonymous) says...
One of my favorite teachers! Mr. Harclerode is receiving well deserved praise and recognition! He inspired so many students, and expected great results from them. He got to know the kids in and out of class, and the kids knew that he was genuine and had their learning in his best interests. Congratulations!!!!
Now, time for the National Teacher's Hall of Fame to induct him...
April 2, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
totonotinksnemore (anonymous) says...
mr harc........youre the best... xoxoxoox
April 2, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
Mr. Harclerode, you are absolutely worthy of this honor. I still know the names of every bone in my body because of you. You did your job well, and then some.
Melissa (otherwise known as the girl who fainted at the K-State cadaver lab in 1993, you drove me to Newman Hospital after we got home from Manhattan so I could get stitches in my chin, and then promptly arrived at my first-hour class the next day to check on me and my seven stitches.)
I still tell that story. :)
April 2, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Emporia_Spartan (anonymous) says...
What a great teacher. colleague, and friend. I have always admired his expertise, his high expectations and his sense of humor. He has touched so many lives through the years, and this award is richly deserved, Congratulations to an outstanding educator! Now, others in Kansas will know what we have always known in Emporia-- we have tremendous educators, and John Harclerode epitomizes greatness in and out of the classroom.
April 2, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )