The National Teacher of the Year award ceremony took on a new format this year as First Lady Jill Biden hosted the event at the White House, normally a setting reserved for foreign dignitaries. The honored guest was Missy Testerman of Rogersville City School in rural Tennessee, who was recognized for her work as an English as a second language teacher. Dr. Biden, who has continued to work as an English professor while serving as first lady, stressed the importance of supporting educators after the Covid-19 pandemic and spoke in support of teachers’ unions during the ceremony. Ms. Testerman also spoke, emphasizing the privilege of being an American and attending public school in the country.
The ceremony, organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers, typically honors finalists and a winner at the White House every year. Dr. Biden has overseen the award ceremony each year of President Biden’s term and was joined briefly by the President, who shared words of encouragement with the teachers in attendance. The event this year featured floral arrangements incorporating the Tennessee state flower, irises, and classroom-themed décor. Guests dined on lobster ravioli and honey-poached apple mousse, and were entertained by the U.S. Army Chorus with the Army and Air Force Strings.
Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona addressed the attendees, emphasizing the importance of bestowing teachers with national respect that is long overdue. In total, 57 teachers, including past winners of the award, were present at the ceremony, and selected teachers were also invited into a yearlong professional development program. Before the event, the White House announced new measures aimed at encouraging higher pay for teachers and highlighted changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, a key component of President Biden’s student debt relief efforts.
Dr. Biden, a former teacher with over 30 years of experience and a member of the National Education Association, has been actively involved in education policy, particularly as schools transitioned back to in-person learning after the Covid crisis. She advocated for making community colleges tuition-free, although the legislation she helped draft did not pass in Congress. President Biden has included the proposal for free community college in his budget for the next fiscal year, but its chances of becoming law are slim with Republicans controlling the House. The event at the White House celebrated the dedication and impact of teachers across the country, acknowledging their role in lifting the nation’s ambitions and providing hope through their work in education.
