announcements
MESSAGE FROM NEA PRESIDENT LILY ESKELSEN ABOUT THE NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OF FAME'S NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO FALLEN EDUC
Apr 15, 2019
Dear Colleagues,
It's with mixed emotions that I write to tell you that our partners and colleagues at the National Teachers Hall of Fame's National Memorial to Fallen Educators received the official designation by Congress on April 30, 2018 as a national memorial. https://nthfmemorial.org/fallen-educators/
While I am thrilled that Emporia University campus in Kansas which houses The National Teachers Hall of Fame will be home to a nationally recognized memorial, I am heartbroken that there is a need for such a monument - to educators who lost their lives in the line of duty while serving their students and colleagues. This one-of-a-kind national memorial includes teachers, ESPs, and administrators by individual names on two large marble stones. Sadly, violence has claimed so many of our colleagues that it is time to purchase a third marble stone.
There are currently 129 names of American educators (teachers, education support professionals, and administrators) etched on the two six foot by six-foot black granite books. A donors' wall, benches, and walkway create a memorial plaza, adorned with landscaping and illumination. Names of the fallen include those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, Chuck Poland, the school bus driver hero killed in in Alabama, Dave Sanders who died at Columbine, as well as teacher Robert Bailey, who was killed in Illinois in 1882, Christa McAuliffe who perished in the Challenger explosion, and Principal Jim McGee of Goddard, Kansas. Too many more names have been added in the past year.
I am asking any individual, local or state affiliate to consider a contribution to maintain our country's only memorial to fallen educators. No amount is too small.
Specifically, we ask you to consider helping by:
1) Supporting the fundraising efforts as a Local or State Affiliate by sending a financial donation. The Hall of Fame is a 501 c3 non-profit organization, and your donation is fully tax-deductible. Any donation is appreciated. CLICK HERE to make a donation.
2) Promoting the fundraising efforts within your state. The Teachers Hall of Fame is encouraging classrooms to have change jars to collect change for the #no more names campaign, to take photos of the children with their collection; turn the coins into a check; and mail the check to the National Teacher Hall of Fame. Each school participating will receive a certificate and have their school honored on the NTHF website.
3) Providing your voice for local, state and national funding of mental health services, counselors, social workers and community resources rather than arming educators so that we focus on prevention rather than reacting to the next tragedy.
4) Planning to attend the Memorial re-dedication ceremonies and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, June 21st in Emporia.
We are so proud of our relationship with The National Teachers Hall of Fame. I hope that you will also consider supporting them by encouraging someone you know to apply for consideration to be included as an honoree or applying yourself. They seek a diverse pool of applicants who serve a diverse pool of students and who will shine as examples of the dedication, talent and leadership of today's educators.
We salute The National Teachers Hall of Fame for their inclusion of a permanent exhibit on the importance of Education Support Professionals and for highlighting our NEA ESP of the Year each year, inducting our winner with the teacher inductees.
In short, there is much to do, and I hope that many of you will step up and find a way to show your appreciation for this physical and permanent tribute to examples of the best and bravest amongst us.
For more information, feel free to contact Carol Strickland, Executive Director of The National Teachers Hall of Fame, at (620) 341-5660 or nthfdirector@emporia.edu. She will be happy to work with you in any way possible.
Gracias por todo,
Lily
