Celebrating educators. Elevating education.

This was the only year in the history of the NTOY Program that the Selection Committee named two National Teachers of the Year. When honoring them, President Eisenhower said, “The education of our children is of prime importance to us all. Each of us must discharge his rightful and proper role in developing the intellectual capacities of all children living in every corner of our land.

When recognizing Missy Adams, President Kennedy said, “Today, the state of individuals and nations rests upon education. In a real, immediate sense, the teachers of America hold our future in their hands.”

Roger Tenney said of his classroom: “You can’t be aloof in my class. Use your mind. Use your heart.”

James Rogers was recognized by First Lady Tricia Nixon in 1972, the same year Texas Instruments introduced its first electronic handheld calculator and Encyclopedia Britannica and Ladies’ Home Journal served as sponsors of the National Teacher of the Year Program.

In 1977, Apple introduces the Apple II and kids love playing Oregon Trail! In a panel with Arthur Ashe, Myrra spoke about the Back to Basics movement and said, “The ability to compute doesn’t transfer itself to concern about society’s problems. Reading and writing must be tools for contacting great ideas.”

In 1982, Madeline Hunter’s book Mastery Teaching is published, and teachers everywhere begin using her method for lesson planning.

After being drafted to Vietnam and earning degrees in mathematics and physics, Bruce Brombacher joined the teaching profession, where he said, “I try to extend an invitation to learn to each student I meet every day.”

Biology teacher and trailblazer, also the first African American recipient of Elon University’s Distinguished Young Alumnus Award.

Tom Fleming graduated high school without knowing how to read; however, once in the Army, he taught himself by using the Bible. He later worked in a juvenile detention center, where he often “developed his own materials to supplement the American history and government textbook lessons with information about the African American experience.”

Sharon Draper was the teacher who didn’t believe there were enough books that reflected her students’ authentic experiences—so she wrote her own. She is a five-time Coretta Scott King Literary Award winner and a New York Times bestseller.

Her first book, Tears of a Tiger, is a classic in English classrooms across the country. She said, “I learned to dream through reading, learned to create dreams through writing, and learned to develop dreamers through teaching. I shall always be a dreamer.”

After retiring from the Army as a colonel, Chauncey Veatch said he wanted to do more—and found teaching. He said of his craft: “My teaching system is driven by celebrating the students and what they bring as individuals; identifying and building upon the gifts they bring inside and outside the classroom. Now, look what they’ve done. Look what they have accomplished. They are already making a difference in the world. They are living a legacy.”

Andrea Peterson took music education from the “extras” to the “essentials” in her school. By writing musicals for her students to perform—and so much more—she helped make music part of everything they learned.

English teacher known for her advocacy for thoughtful teaching; later a Teaching Channel and PBS host and now NTOY Program Director.

Race to the Top is created and shapes education funding conversations around the country.

Rebecka enthusiastically elevated teacher leadership initiatives, saying, “This is professional. This is how professionals conduct themselves. We all have enormously high expectations, and we rose. That’s what teachers do for kids.”

During her year of service, Sydney said, “I am in love with teaching because working with young people means that I get to witness these small acts of brilliant humanity all the time. I get to continually be inspired and challenged and amazed. I get to watch as students transform themselves into people who will change the world.”

As a charter school teacher, she also contributed to conversations about charter schools across the country.

Tabatha Rosproy served teachers during a global pandemic. As the first Pre-K teacher to receive this honor, she inspired educators across the country with the story of her intergenerational learning center. She re-centered the importance of our youngest learners and taught a nation how to hope when they needed it most.

Juliana Urtubey, an elementary special education teacher, brought new energy to an exhausted profession in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic. She celebrated a joyful and just approach to teaching and appeared on the cover of People magazine as teachers were recognized as “People of the Year.” She was also named one of the most influential people of the year in her home country of Colombia.

Juliana Urtubey and Tabatha Rosproy were the only two National Teachers of the Year, from different years, to receive their White House recognition on the same day due to the pandemic.

Kurt Russell, a high school social studies teacher of 25 years at the time of his selection, brought purpose during a difficult time for the profession with his mantra: “I still have hope.”

His message of hope, coupled with his advocacy for schools to diversify their curricula and teaching force, was met with enthusiasm and determination.

Rebecka Peterson is a high school math teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who has taught everything from intermediate algebra to AP calculus. She is a proud immigrant of Swedish–Iranian descent and has lived all over the world.

At a time when the profession is struggling, Rebecka reminds us that joy is “not a binary” and that you can cultivate it when you’re willing to see “one good thing” every day.

Missy Testerman teaches kindergarten through eighth grade ESL in her rural Tennessee community, nestled next to the Appalachian Mountains. As a career educator with more than 30 years of experience, she makes everyday advocacy as central to her practice as her pedagogy.

With humor, truth, and an innate sense of community, Missy uses her voice to ensure all her students are seen. She was recognized, along with her cohort, at the first-ever Teachers of the Year State Dinner, hosted by teacher and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.