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Celebrities, Notable Public Figures Reveal Their Most Memorable Teachers

Behind every famous face lies an unsung hero, a teacher who has provided the inspiration and motivation for success in life. The National Education Association has collected the following list of teachers who have inspired celebrities, athletes, and elected officials to become who they are today.

Celebrities

Patti LaBelle, Singer
Ms. Eileen Brown
John Bartram High School
Philadelphia, PA

"Ms. Brown was very special because she was my mentor. She was very helpful to my family and me. She and I became close friends and are good friends. After so many years, we still spend time talking on the phone."

"During one of our art projects, Ms. Strict (third grade teacher) pointed out to me how good I was. She gave me one-on-one time and went on to say that I was great at recreating the details on my art project. I, of course, grew more confident in my work and majored in art."

"My high school English teacher, who for some reason assigned me the role of Portia inThe Merchant of Venice when we read it aloud in class -- it was the first time I'd ever done anything remotely like acting, and I thought, hmmmmm... "

"Dilia taught me the importance of perseverance and discipline one must have in order to obtain results that will bring you happiness and success."

"Mr. Smith introduced me to so many genres of music and taught me how to appreciate them all."

"Mr. Sellereit gave me my first acting job in my school production of The Jungle Book!"

"Mr. Tucker has never forgotten what he has in common with his students... which is that he was a kid once, therefore he will always be able to be heard by his students, who feel 100 percent respected and validated."

"Wow... I have more than one memorable teacher... ummmmmm let me see. My elementary school sixth grade teacher -- his name is Mr. Powers from Jackson Elementary School in Rockford, IL. Mr Powers had a way of connecting with his students and not being judgmental. He was easy to talk to yet he was stern. Mr Powers was a man who even the meanest child didn't want to disrespect! I also liked the fact that we would have 'Subway' days where we'd order Subway sandwiches and eat them in class around lunchtime! You know, as a kid, things like that mean something."

"Teachers are often the people who inspire us the most. I know I wouldn't be where I am today without my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan. She so believed in me, and for the first time, made me embrace the idea of learning. I learned to love learning because of Mrs. Duncan."

 

Notable Public Figures

"Mr. Larabell challenged me as a writer, demanded discipline in my use of language, and inspired me to deeper levels of critical though -- and he did all of this with a high level of erudition and a whip-smart sense of humor."

"She taught me the importance of foreign language in the education of a successful person, regardless of their primary course of study. I still use my German to this day in both work and social situations, and I have since taken classes in both Russian and Japanese."

"Mr. Wachs was my 11th grade business teacher at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, and his big impact came when he caught me and my friend Michelle passing notes during his lecture. He announced to the class that Michelle and I were the two students least likely to succeed in the entire school. He wasn't entirely right. Michelle became Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Poppas and she's in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and I did all right eventually. But, in a way he was very much right because if you don't pay attention when knowledge or opportunity come your way, you're going to be the loser. And if you have knowledge, you can make opportunity happen. There came a moment as a young adult when I was living in the back of my car and picking up pop bottles to feed my son. I remembered Mr. Wachs' insistence on focus. So I focused on the fact that I had once successfully sold encyclopedias door to door. If you can do that, you can do anything. It restored my determination and self belief."

"Coach Yengo taught us the value of hard work and perseverance."

"Mrs. Doke was a science teacher (now retired but still very active in California education). She was the most encouraging teacher I have known and worked tirelessly to develop her students' individual talents and interests. She applied great creativity to her presentation of the world of science, and each student was made to feel that his or her own special interests were the highest priority to Mrs. Doke. Her encouragement for my own interest in science and engineering was a significant force in my choice of careers, and she has stayed in touch by attending each of my launches on the space shuttle."

 

Athletes

"Joe's passion and enthusiasm for teaching makes learning in his classroom a joy. It is very unique to be able to connect with high school kids and to teach with such a genuine caring attitude the way Joe is able to do it."

"Mr. Hancock's dedication to his students was unmatched by any of my teachers. He taught his students how to be young adults. He encouraged us to look further than just the surface with everything we did. I can honestly say he was a big inspiration for me."

"He taught my whole family and taught in a special way."

Mom

"In ninth grade, my mom was my teacher in English…so in the grander scheme, she is DEFINITELY my favorite!"

"The reason I liked Mr. Price so much was because he had a wealth of knowledge about everything. He had stories and little tales that weren't in text books. He wasn't just reading along with us. He added a lot of insight and actually made history fun."

"Mr. James L. Jones (principal) played the roll of father, teacher, and friend, especially when I had my oldest daughter when I was 16. I could have easily steered off into the wrong direction, but he pushed me to be a great father. He picked my classes so that I got the best education and made sure I kept a certain GPA for my college years. [He] instilled in me the goal of going to college-not only to go but get a degree to better my life …"

"She taught me and cared the most. I still visit her when I am in town."

"She taught me how to grow up using positive methods."

"He was my Spanish teacher and soccer coach."

"He cared for all of his students and spent time outside of school to help students in school and life. He stressed improvement as a grading priority as well as encouraged students to have fun. He was a passionate teacher as well as funny.”

Jay Feely, Kicker, New York Giants
Mr. Robert Weiner
Jesuit High School
Tampa, FL

"Without question the best teacher I ever had was Robert Weiner … He inspired as well as educated, and his life was the greatest educational tool he had. I respected him so much I asked him to be the best man at my wedding!"

"She pushed me to get better grades and never allowed me to just get by."

"Mr. Reed is truly committed to excellence as a math teacher. He is not only a teacher of math but a teacher of life. He helped me understand the meaning of commitment by having perfect attendance for 30 years. He never took a day off. That motivated me on and off the field."

"[H]e was a great mentor, not only was he a great teacher but [he also was] a good baseball coach."

"She was a teacher who really cared about me and wanted me to make something out of myself, when times were bad. If not for her, I would not be here today."

"Mr. Mills was always mixing things up so that everyone was interested. He made learning very exciting."

"My dad…always pushed me hard and wanted me to do the best I could in everything. When everything goes bad, he taught me to keep my head up. He gave me a lot of confidence."

"She was good friends with my varsity football coach, Jerry Smith, and she helped keep me focused on my schoolwork so that I would be able to continue to excel in athletics. Without her constant motivation, I wouldn't have achieved what I have achieved in my life thus far. I am very grateful that I had people like her and Coach Smith looking out for me when I needed some direction in my life.”

"She really cared about us. I still get letters from her to this day. She has even seen me play versus the Cowboys. She would have mystery readers who would come in and read a story to us and hang out for a bit with us and help with our schoolwork. It has inspired me to read to kids on Tuesdays during the season. We always did cool things like International Day where everyone brought food from another country. My mom brought up a crepe maker and we had crepes with powdered sugar and syrup, it was so much fun. She is always happy and upbeat, a person who truly loves her job. She made coming to school fun day in and day out."

"He taught World History and World Geography and he was extremely smart and very animated. He loved what he was doing and he has made me like it ever since."

"[S]he really was passionate about teaching, she could handle all subjects and I learned a lot from her."

"He set me free as an artist."

"[He] was the one who made me play baseball."

"My favorite teacher was my Health teacher, Coach Gant. He was also my football coach and baseball coach. As a teacher and coach, he got the most out of me and really got me to push myself.

"Mr. Stockstill was my first grade teacher and he taught me all of the subjects. I am a big math guy and I have to thank him for that. I remember the different card games he would play with us to help us learn addition. I had a lot of fun in his class."

"She took a vested interest in me as a person and not an athlete. She inspired me to be the best that I could be in the classroom and that would translate to me being a better player on the football field. Ultimately, her instruction allowed me to take tougher honors classes in high school, which in turn prepared me to be a good student at Vanderbilt University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country."

"He was a great motivator and always willing to help students achieve their goals."

"Mr. Schwartz was one of my favorite teachers because he treated everyone with respect and was not just your teacher but also was a friend. He gave the extra effort to help you at all costs."

"[He] helped me to get to the big leagues."

“Everyday, he met the class with a smile and brought an attitude that was contagious to having fun, and learning at the same time. This was always one of the classes i looked forward to going to daily. I still keep in touch with him and when my brother recently was in the hospital suffering from an illness, he was right there by his side, just to be there for him. Brett had also been in Mr. Hayes' class and this just shows what kind of person he is as well as being a great mentor for every kid he teaches. This man has touched my life and helped show me some of the characteristics that a man should strive to be."

"Ms. Duffoer taught me English my senior year. She was patient with everybody. I don't know how it happened but I was her teacher's pet. She was one of the teachers throughout the school that everyone said was really tough, but I got along great with her and I did really well in her class."

 

Elected Public Officials

"[S]he taught me everything I know."

"Mrs. Parks, my kindergarten teacher, combined the qualities of great storyteller, life-lessons teacher, and loving mother. I still keep in touch with her and cherish her friendship and love."

"Miss Osborne always motivated me to set high goals for myself and was an encouraging teacher. Those kinds of teachers really don't come along that often. But she helped to build my confidence, set me in the right direction, and gave me the 'si se puede' attitude that I could do anything I set my mind to."

"Mr. Prugh made the 1980 Presidential elections (the first Presidential election in which I could vote) come alive in the classroom. I already had the political bug, before taking his class, but he certainly nurtured my interest in policy and the political process."

"Mr. Ruge was an inspirational teacher who instilled in me a love for a vanishing art form: written English. He emphasized clear, concise prose-not common among practitioners of my current profession.

"He emphasized skill and fitness development, but he also taught us about dignity, character, integrity, and grace."

"He had a radical notion about education. He said 'the most important course in the political science department is Political Science 1. Since I am the department head, it follows that I should teach the department's most important course.' … [He] taught me about the Constitution and James Madison and Thomas Jefferson and the constitutional convention. Through his instruction, I read the Federalist Papers and began a lifelong love affair with political theory and the Constitution. I've always appreciated the insights I gained under the tutelage of G. Homer Durham. Even today, 50 years later, as I continue my work in the U.S. Senate, and strive to meet the responsibilities of my office, I find that I frequently harken back to the days at the University of Utah and Dr. Durham's Political Science 1 class, and how applicable and valuable those lessons still are today. He certainly made a difference in my life."

"Mr. Rutland encouraged and inspired [me] to become involved in student government and eventually run for school, district, and state Student Council President positions."

"Mr. Thompson instilled in me a fascination with government and public service, as well as an appreciation for history. He also taught me how to write."

"Mrs. Schneider was compassionate but tough-she helped to show me the difference between doing adequate work and doing excellent work. She pushed me to excel at each and every challenge."

Mr. Ernest Bainton
Kingswood Regional High School
Wolfeboro, NH

"Mr. Bainton helped to show me the excitement of reading for pleasure and taught me the importance of each spoken and written word."

"Mrs. Varner taught me that reading books would open the world to me and encouraged me to always do better. Her inspiration has been a guiding light throughout my life."

"Ms. Clarke was the first teacher I had outside of my parents. At the time, there was no kindergarten or pre-school, so she had the awesome task of teaching my class of first and second graders what it meant to be in a classroom-how to sit still, listen, and learn. Ms. Blanche took our young wonder in the world and showed us how to concentrate it into a structured educational goal."

"Her lesson was that just because you were poor didn't mean that you couldn't learn."

"She was the most dedicated teacher I ever had. She was tough but fair and always went the extra mile for her kids and students."

"She taught me to put my best efforts into everything I undertake, a lesson so important that it has remained with me to this day."

"He left quite an impression on [me] and really taught [me] a lot about character."

"[Miss Lacey] inspired a love of writing."

"As an active leader in local St. Louis politics, Beverly inspired, encouraged, and supported my public service."

"Mrs. Buckles taught me grammar."

"Ms. Fiero emphasized learning about other countries. I remember one assignment, which I especially enjoyed, required us to conduct research into other countries and cultures. Ms. Fiero asked us to put together a booklet that contained information about countries from around the world. I was fascinated by what I learned and this really sparked my interest in world affairs. I now serve on the House International Relations Committee, and I root my interest in world affairs in Ms. Fiero's lessons."

"Dr. Tommie Johnson of the High School of Commerce made learning fun and reinforced my belief that I had the potential to accomplish anything. Helping young people understand the power of their dreams is a wonderful motivator and something that I worked to instill in my students when I was a teacher and continue to share with my children, grandchildren, and America's youth."

"In addition to being no-nonsense, she was encouraging and understanding of the ways of a second grader, as the only African American and local teacher … Ms. Jackson became a role model for [me]."

"Her enthusiasm for learning was contagious. She had a great sense of humor and made being in her classroom fun, and at the same time inspired all her students to work hard and do their very best."

“She was warm, engaging, and made me think.”

Leland Skabo
Roosevelt High School
Bismarck, ND

"He also made me stretch my thinking. Each of these teachers commanded respect, and any one of them could have been a United States Senator. I am grateful for the impact they have had on my life."

The Senator was raised by his grandmother, who was a teacher and always emphasized the importance of education in the household.

"The only paddling I ever got in school was from her, and I deserved it. She was strict, but she was brilliant. I was in her class when John F. Kennedy was shot.

"[She] encouraged my lifelong love of learning and helped me learn to respect and get along with others."

"Mr. Posey was the person who convinced me that I could achieve anything if I worked hard and simply believed."

Prior to having Mr. Posey, Rep. Cummings was placed in special education because he was told that he “talked too much.” Mr. Posey's encouragement helped Rep. Cummings leave special education and enter into Baltimore's prestigious Baltimore City College High School, from where his colleagues Reps. Ruppersberger and Cardin also graduated, go to Howard University, and then on to law school.

"Ms. Beaddie was an inspiration and such a wonderful teacher. [S]he was my kindergarten teacher and then later on she was my English and literature teacher when I graduated from high school."

Congressman Davis grew up in rural Arkansas where school was in session only five months a year. He attended a one-room school.

"He taught courses in the Cold War and helped stimulate [my] interest in foreign policy. He actively promoted critical thinking among his students."

Mr. John Malone
Yellow Springs High School
Yellow Springs, OH

Ms. Jean Kappell
Yellow Springs High School
Yellow Springs, OH

"Mrs. Peterson was a tremendously positive teacher. In first grade, she pinned a note for my mom on the back of my jacket that read: 'Let the proudest boy in West Hartford read his first book to you!' Mrs. Peterson's enthusiasm was contagious and gave me confidence to try new things and succeed."

English teacher, still correcting his work!

"She always took the time to let each student know that there was a whole world out there to learn."

"He explained that geometry would probably be the only logic class we would take. He showed us the importance of being able to prove even obvious things. He showed an enthusiasm that was catching and an ability to know when every student in the class had caught onto each concept and could build on it. He still occasionally sends me a challenging question.”

"She was stern and tough, but she challenged me and wouldn't settle for anything but my best. She cared about each and every student."

"She never used books, but rather she taught students to find their own answers to questions…In this way she was developing potential and encouraging students to understand their own capacities and how to do good with those."

"She took me under her wing, giving me individual attention, and enabled me to go to a good high school. On this National Teacher Day, I thank Ms. Ryder for her extraordinary service and thank all of the wonderful teachers across the country who work tirelessly to ensure that our children reach their highest potential."

"He raised the funds to send me to the first Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, saying if they can train one student in government, he would then come back and make a difference in the community and help train others."

"He was special because he instilled in me a desire to speak and write correctly, and [he] was an example of how hard work pays off."

"I grew up exceptionally poor and worked as my high school's janitor while I was a student in order to help my family. Mr. Norton recognized my talents and inspired me to be the first person in my family to graduate high school and go to college."

"Martha Gould (librarian) was “a major influence."

"I attended Old Fort Schools in Old Fort, Ohio. Two teachers who stand out to me as particularly important to my education are Mrs. Mosier, my first grade teacher; and Mrs. Newman, my Junior High Algebra teacher. However, I hesitate to identify any one teacher because I was blessed with so many good educators. The dedication of my teachers in Old Fort made each and every one of them special."

"She was especially kind to every student and helped us get started in public education. Ms. Smith loved every student and was an expert at the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic."

Congressman Goode attended a four-room framed school that housed grades one through seven.

"Dr. Plaehn was a special teacher because she took such a personal interest in the welfare of her students beyond the classroom."

"How can you pick one favorite teacher when there are so many teachers who have had an impact on your life?"

"He lived the expression, 'when I hear, I forget. When I see, I remember. When I do, I understand.' He encouraged us to participate, not only in class discussions, but also in activities in the community."

"She inspired me, she challenged me, she communicated with me, and she taught me. The essential ingredients for a memorable teacher."

"She was the first teacher who made me believe I could be a success."

"H.L. Douglas, a gentleman and a scholar. He coached basketball, football, baseball, and taught chemistry. [He was a] no-nonsense disciplinarian who exuded love."

"She inspired me to go on to college at a time when the most that could be expected of me was to continue to work at the trade that I had learned. She told me that one day I would be a great poet."

"Mr. Westby had a profound impact on my high school years as he cultivated my interest in government and politics. He was diplomatic, yet firm in articulating his expectations of high performance, and this kind of steady encouragement taught me the value of setting high standards for academics and for life in general. He was particularly persistent and persuasive in recruiting me to join the debate team. While I was originally hesitant, he challenged me to join and I have never regretted it."

"She introduced me to magnificent novels and fostered my love of literature."

"Mr. Williams was always prepared, wasted no time (he respected our time in class), always had eye contact with a genuine smile with the students, and knew our names. We were not all 'A' students but no one avoided classes because they didn't know something. He stayed after class to re-teach something he thought we didn't understand. I once saw him delivering papers to augment his income and he never missed a beat."

"Mr. McCain not only taught me the immortal precept: 'Do like you oughter, add the acid to the water;' he also awakened in me the recognition that chemistry is fundamental to our knowledge of the environment. When I'm working to reduce the acidification of the oceans by cutting carbon-dioxide emissions, it is due in part to the teachings of Wendall McCain."

"Mr. Jones challenged each and every one of his students to be the best they could be and cared for them as if they were his own."

"[She] inspired me to acquire an interest in literature and in writing. She also pointed out that I could be both a football player and a good student."

"She spent an extraordinary amount of time working with each of us individually. She listened closely while encouraging us to share our thoughts and ideas, and she taught us how to be self-evaluative as we expressed them. As a result of her teaching, several of the members of that class have become published authors."

"I will never forget the Reverend John Walker. He was the first African-American teacher at our school, and he got us interested in the growing civil rights movement and, frankly, taught us all a lot about life."

"Through Mr. Townsend, [I] learned that civics and politics was 'cool.'"

"Mr. Karp invented 'Geography Baseball' and turned it into a rite of passage in our town. We memorized the locations of Georgia (then in the Soviet Union), Goa (in India) and the Gobi desert (in China). It sparked an interest to see each of these places and to understand America's role in the world. I have seen each one and am now working to expand language and exchange opportunities for all American students. Mr. Karp has passed away, but I carried his legacy as a nursery school assistant, middle school teacher, and now as a congressman."

"Coach Block was a motivator-he knew what motivated each individual person and knew how to treat them based on what their specific needs were. Coach Block inspired me not only to participate in high school athletics but [also] to excel in academics at the same time, allowing me to reach my full potential in both areas. This is a critical message to all students today, no matter where they are or want to be in life."

He “liked them all!"

"Mr. Jackson had a way of engaging his social studies class in current events, one that inspired me to become more involved in government and never stop looking for ways to make the world better."

"Mr. Kies was an outstanding educator who was a friend and counselor to everyone in the community. He taught mathematics in a method that made it relevant to our everyday lives, allowing students to easily grasp the real life need for studying the subject."

"In the Davenport Public Schools System, no one was more revered than my football and wrestling coach, Jim Fox. A member of Iowa's coaching Hall of Fame in two sports, Jim imbued the work ethic in thousands of young athletes. …. Jim also coached the first African-American to win an NCAA wrestling championship. Jim is currently living in a nursing home where his main comfort are memories fast fading with Alzheimer's But those who were coached by him will never forget his commitment to discipline and fair play. Jim didn't believe in short cuts or fancy strategies. He taught people to work hard, to play together, to live by the rules, and respect opponents. His lessons weren't complicated. But they couldn't be deeper."

"I had some great teachers, but I will give the prize to Margaret Poole, my fourth and sixth grade teacher, a strong, optimistic woman who taught me the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic and also encouraged me to be a leader, in an elementary school kind of way."

“Father Murray motivated the students.”

"John Attig taught government and politics right off the pages of the newspaper. He made politics and government exciting, vital, and compelling. His passion made his students passionate. He was both entertaining and instructive-an inspired and inspiring teacher.">

"Evelyn Miller, my first grade teacher, changed my life: she taught me to read, she was present when I announced my candidacy for Congress, and she attended my victory party!"

"When I first ran for city council in Carrollton, she returned my campaign brochure. It was corrected with a red pen for grammatical errors."

"Teachers in high school, both negative and positive, had the greatest influence on me … [She] said I'd never graduate from college. Mrs. Mildred Bates, while negative, made me believe in myself."

Edward Maas
Downers Grove North High School
Downers Grove, IL

"Mr. Edward Maas, another teacher, pushed me hard. Mr. Maas challenged me to be better than I was. He believed in me."

"Regardless of a child's achievement, [she] was accepting and encouraging."

"Marion Thompson is a true professional whose love of teaching is evident in the enthusiasm, eagerness, and effectiveness she demonstrates with every class and each individual student. Both my wife and I treasure the positive and powerful learning experience we had under her tutelage. She could have been successful at any number of professions, but Marion choose teaching and elevated it to its highest level."

"Dr. Sharon Wooten served as a college tutor and mentor and helped me deal with my dyslexia. Without her guidance, understanding, and patience, I would not have been able to graduate college on time. She continues to be a strong voice for those with learning disabilities, helping hundreds of other students deal with the challenges they face in college."

"Ms. Anderson went above and beyond what was required of her as a teacher and inspired young people like myself to live up to their potential. Countless times, she showed how invested she was in our achievement, like the time she rallied around me when I ran for student leadership, it sparked my interest in public service."

"She helped me overcome and master my fear of speaking in public, which obviously changed my life."

"Encouraged civic involvement, even if he was Republican!"

"Mrs. Everest had the perfect balance of kindness and determination-challenging her students to be the absolute best they could be and always supporting them when they needed extra help."

"Mrs. Pruter cared about each of her students, loved each one of them, but had high expectations of all students. She made it clear that I had the ability to do well if I applied myself and that it was OK to be smart."

"Mrs. Buness opened the world for me when she taught me to read, to explore, and to question.

"He taught us about the importance of working as a team, practicing and working hard."

"He really tried to make kids think and taught us to ask a lot of questions."

"Mr. Reyna was the only Mexican-American teacher at the high school and [he] inspired me to overcome any barriers in order to achieve my goals."

"She was my second grade and fifth grade teacher. She changed my life because she believed in me."

"Mr. Westby knew his chemistry and cared about his students. Long before he devoted his career to advancing education through leadership with the state's education association, he devoted himself to teaching science, including to challenging students like myself. I've known Mr. Westby for 35 years, and after all this time I know he still can teach me a thing or two and will the next time we sit down to talk education policy."

"He had an intimidating manner. He shook me into realizing I had academic potential. He did that literally by shaking me."

"She is still alive, and [I] still correspond with her."

"She taught me how to read and helped me develop a love of learning. I read a lot to this day, and that's partly because of her."

Ms. Marlon Walker
Mr. Mike O'Callaghan
Basic High School
Henderson, NV

"[Marlon Walker and Mike O'Callaghan] were both disciplinarians and were both strong moral examples for their students. They helped me develop my character and my conscience, along with teaching me their subjects."

"He was a no-nonsense teacher and coach that insisted on hard work and maximum effort in every endeavor. He really focused on each of us, being a mentor, a teacher, a counselor, and a friend. He took great pride in our accomplishments, especially because he worked with very limited resources. I learned that life wasn't always fair, but that it was never an excuse to accept less than a maximum effort. Like most teachers, I now realize, he often dug into his own pocket to make sure we had what supplies we needed."

"Mr. Bell opened my eyes to a world much, much larger than the small rural valley where I grew up."

"Joe Brune was not only a great football coach, but a great role model. Teachers make a hugh difference in teaching kids the fundamentals of teamwork and determination. Joe Brune's tough commitment to our team made us build character, sportsmanship, and tenacity. These values have served me well throughout my career."

"Frank Douglas… taught me more about the world in six months than I had learned in 18 years."

"Mr. Gillen taught his students that each of us had the ability to tap into untouched levels of human potential, and we had a responsibility to our community and nation to stretch to those heights."

"He pushed me to do better academically and encouraged me to join the basketball team. He did what all great teachers do-he challenged me to get involved, both inside and out of the classroom."

"He taught me many lessons about life, what it meant to work hard, to be determined, to never give up, and to be successful. Together with many of my friends and classmates, we gained much from his professional efforts and friendship."

"Mrs. Abbott was my Shakespeare teacher, and during the summer she would take a group of us to the Shakespeare festival in Oregon where we would camp out and watch a different play each day. (Sometimes more than one each day!) She was a marvelous teacher, with infectious enthusiasm, and showed us the beauty of the English language. I still remember her warm smile, her laugh, her dedication to her students, and a passion for Shakespeare that she passed on to her students-a passion I still share."

"This teacher brought me out of my shell and demanded the best of me in a loving, supportive way."

"She sincerely cared about her students."

"Mr. Spurgeon strove for excellence in the classroom, gym, and the athletic field as a coach; he was unrelenting in the pursuit of excellence. Those who were fortunate to have him learned teamwork, self-sacrifice, and a strong work ethic."

"Mr. Baker made a difficult subject interesting and easy to grasp. Throughout college and dental school, I often reflected on the lessons he taught me."

"He showed a passion for learning and the English language that was truly inspiring for all those of us lucky enough to have him for a teacher."

Roseanne Joyce
Northwest High School
Lucasville, OH

"They saw potential in me that I didn't perceive, and they encouraged me to do things that I probably wouldn't have done without their support."

"A talented educator, coach, and, later, principal, Coach Phipps was known among his colleagues and students for choosing one special student each week to befriend."

"She demanded excellence and helped [me] improve [my] writing skills. She was tough, but fair, and cared deeply about making her students better."

"My first quarter in geometry, I had a near failing grade. By the last quarter (sophomore year) I had an 'A' because Mr. Prosser took the time to explain geometry to a thick headed farm boy. He taught me for two more years, and in my senior year I was a regional winner in a national math contest. Not bad for a kid who nearly flunked out of sophomore geometry."

"She set demanding goals and insisted on discipline while managing to exhibit respect and concern for her students at the same time, and her ability to motivate and to encourage students to excel without exposing them to peer pressure as 'teacher's pet' were skills she exercised deftly, especially when she taught me how to embrace the role of public speaker."

"Rick Tomko has an amazing grasp of history. His great story telling ability made learning fun and maintained students' interest on issues of politics and democracy.

"Ms. McNeil had a natural way of explaining complicated subject matter."

"Mr. Denekas truly made government come alive. When I became a member of Congress, much later on, I was able to speak to his class until he retired."

"I knew she cared about me, wanted me to succeed, pushed me to work hard and do my best, and accepted nothing less than what she knew was possible from her students. When we finished fifth grade and faced the inevitable sadness about leaving a favorite teacher, she announced she was moving up with us to sixth grade and keeping us all together. The two years of continuity helped prepare me for success in secondary school and gave me the emotional support that every child needs as they move into their teen years."

"In addition to teaching the basics of reading and writing, Miss Noonan taught the whole class to celebrate and respect the diversity of our Brooklyn neighborhood."

"Miss Sondergaard was my P.E. teacher who selected me, when I was in the ninth grade, to be the leader of the Girls Afterschool P.E. program. She was one of the first adults in my youth to acknowledge my leadership capabilities."

"She flunked me -- and rightly so!"