During a long-awaited event at the White House on Monday, President Joe Biden honored the 2020 and 2021 National Teachers of the Year by presenting them with two glass apples. Addressing the gathering of 100 educators on the South Lawn, Biden emphasized the significant impact teachers have and urged them not to underestimate their contributions. The ceremony provided a moment to appreciate and uplift teachers, who are facing unprecedented challenges in their profession. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, educators are working tirelessly to address academic gaps, support students’ social-emotional well-being, and maintain their own health. Furthermore, schools throughout the country are struggling with staffing shortages, making teachers’ workloads even more demanding.
President Biden surprised attendees by making an unannounced appearance at the event, which was organized by First Lady Jill Biden, an English teacher at a community college in Virginia. Alongside other state teachers of the year, Tabatha Rosproy, the 2020 recipient who taught preschool in Kansas, and Juliana Urtubey, the 2021 winner who teaches elementary special education in Las Vegas, were recognized during the ceremony. Last year, due to the pandemic, the national winner and state teachers of the year were not honored at the White House for the first time since 1952. In 2019, President Donald Trump initially declined to attend the ceremony, but eventually invited the teachers for a surprise meeting in the Oval Office.
The 2021 White House ceremony, which was also delayed from the spring, provided an opportunity for the celebrated teachers from across the country to engage with members of Congress and commemorate their selection as state teachers of the year. The Council of Chief State School Officers, the organization behind the National Teacher of the Year program, coordinated the week’s activities, including the White House ceremony. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who welcomed the top teachers to the White House, expressed gratitude for the rescheduled event, jokingly referring to it as a two-for-one deal resulting from last year’s canceled ceremony. Attendance at the ceremony also included Becky Pringle from the National Education Association and Randi Weingarten from the American Federation of Teachers, the presidents of the national teachers’ unions.
Tabatha Rosproy, who currently serves as an early-childhood coach, donned a dress adorned with drawings created by her students and community members. As the first early-childhood educator to receive the National Teacher of the Year title, Rosproy previously taught in a public preschool located within a local retirement community and nursing home. The innovative setup allowed community members to participate as "grandparent" volunteers, visiting her classroom. As part of the honor, the National Teacher of the Year is granted a yearlong sabbatical to advocate for a cause of their choice. In her speech, Rosproy shared her focus on promoting the significance of early-childhood education and fostering social-emotional learning. She emphasized the need for teachers to receive support, given the emotional burden they carry while addressing their students’ trauma during the pandemic.
Following Rosproy’s address, Juliana Urtubey, the first Latinx teacher to win the national title in years, called for educators to work towards creating an education system that is both uplifting and equitable for all students. As a special education teacher, Urtubey emphasized her role in helping students recognize their full potential and abilities to contribute to their school community. At one point during her speech, she became emotional, prompting Jill Biden to rush over and offer a comforting embrace. The first lady praised both the state and national teachers of the year, recognizing them as the unsung heroes who perform small miracles in classrooms across the country on a daily basis.
♥️My young students, also known as #KIDartists, are eagerly anticipating the reactions of @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris when they lay eyes on the #kidmade #whitehouse #worthy clothing in person. 🤞🏻 #INTOY20 pic.twitter.com/fxsdqCSPfQ— miss pourcho (@hey_mrsporkchop) September 21, 2021
In a post-ceremony interview, Pourcho expressed how significant it is for her students to know that the first lady, Jill Biden, has viewed their artwork.
"As an elementary art teacher, I constantly remind them that even their small hands can create a tremendous impact. So, I have transformed into a walking art gallery, where my attire serves as the canvas for their artistic expressions," she stated.
While other teachers were busy capturing selfies on the South Lawn, Pourcho described the experience as "surreal and magical." After a prolonged delay, she was overjoyed to witness their artistic endeavor finally come to fruition.
