Teachers Hall of Fame induction this week
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 12:47 p.m., June 17, 2008
Updated 12:47 p.m., June 17, 2008
The National Teachers Hall of Fame’s five inductees for 2008 will enter the Hall of Fame on Friday with a combined 150 years of classroom experience.
Induction activities begin Thursday morning for the NTHF’s Class of 2008: Ronald Blanchard of Lake Charles, La.; Kathleen Fay Engle of Newcastle, Wyo.; Penny Ferguson of Maryville, Tenn.; David Lazerson of Hollywood, Fla.; and Suzanne Ransleben of Corpus Christi, Texas. The two days of activities will culminate with the class’s induction at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Albert Taylor Hall.
Thursday gives the inductees a chance to see where they’ll be enshrined during a tour of the NTHF museum beginning at 10:30 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the inductees will participate in a roundtable discussion for the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence in room 115A at the Earl Center, 1601 State St. A presentation at ESU’s one-room school will follow at 2:30 p.m. In the evening, the inductees will attend a welcome dinner at 6 p.m. at Sauder Alumni Center and take in the Emporia Municipal Band’s concert at 8 p.m. in Fremont Park.
An informational breakfast kicks off Friday’s induction activities at 8:30 a.m. After lunch, the inductees will take part in a rehearsal for the evening’s ceremony at Taylor Hall. A photo shoot and reception begins in Visser Hall at 3:45 p.m., and the banquet begins at 5:45 in the Colonial Ballroom of the Memorial Union, preceding the induction.
Upon induction, each educator’s career story will be posted in the hall of fame’s gallery, and their biographies will be posted on the NTHF Web site. Other awards the teachers receive include $1,000 in educational materials and a $1,000 college scholarship for a student in their district who’s planning to pursue a teaching career.