You said it

NEA Today, Oct 1998 by Fischer, Bill

In just a few weeks, USA Today will announce the first "All-USA Teacher Teams" 40 teachers in all, 20 each on the first, second, and third teams.

Late this past summer, I had the opportunity to be one of the 12 judges who selected these historic teams of education all-stars.

Our judging group included experienced educators from every level of education, and we knew what we wanted to do. We wanted to find a group of teachers who could represent the education profession as exemplary teachers. And that's just what we found.

The all-star teachers we selected aren't the "best teachers" in America. No contest process can ever hope to identify the "best." The all-stars we selected are simply wonderful teachers-men and women who can make America proud of what's going on in our nation's classrooms.

The best testimonials about the work of these teachers came, naturally enough, from their students. I was amazed to see how many students wrote that they still go back to see their former teachers for advice and counsel, often years and years after they've sat in the teachers' classes.

The all-star applications were also full of letters of support from parents. Many of these letters explained how a certain teacher had stepped in to rescue a failing son or daughter at a time when it seemed like everyone else in the world had just given up on the child.

Deciding which teachers to select as all-stars was tough but rewarding work. The teachers nominated ranged in age from their early 20s to their late 60s. Some had just a short career in teaching, others more than 30 years of experience.

A majority of the all-stars are NEA members, and, in the months to come, you'll be reading many of their stories here in NEA Today. In the meantime, check the October 15 USA Today. It'll-feature a rundown of the entire first team. Some good reading about great people!