View From The Hill - (2/12/09)

Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame

Nearly 218 years, that’s the number of combined teaching experience from this year’s inductees into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame.  Amy Bingham has more on the educators in this week’s View from the Hill.

A statewide selection committee chooses recipients for the Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame which was created in 2000.  This is the second year for a ceremony in Frankfort that included much-deserved recognition for the beloved teachers.

“Today we honor the very best in education in Kentucky.”  The 2009 class of the KY Teacher Hall of Fame is make up of five people.  “As I look at you I think of the impact you’ve had on so many people and in turn the impact they’ve had on other folks.”

Two of them are still in the classroom, but as First Lady and former teacher Jane Beshear says, all of them are still teaching.  “I don’t have the number of years you have but I say “once a teacher, always a teacher, you never give it up.”

Steve Nunn, son of former Kentucky Governor Louie Nunn for whom the hall of fame is named, spoke on behalf of his late father.  “He said education was the best commitment to Kentucky’s future and he really believed that.”

Dale Faughn of Fredonia teaches biology at Caldwell County High School.  After 58 years, he has no plans to retire.  He says the group shares the honor with other educators.  “This recognition, I think, recognizes not just us as individuals but the profession as a whole.  I like to feel like this was good for all teachers in the state.”

Jesse Pearl Comer Jackson of Monroe County is the oldest recipient at 96.  She got an early start teaching her six younger brothers and went on to teach nearly 40 years.  “I was blessed to be a teacher, to teach the young children because I loved them so and they loved me.”

Teresa Cowherd of Bowling Green is also still in the classroom at Parker Bennett Curry Elementary.  Coming from a family full of educators, she says there’s nowhere else she’d rather be.  “I love working with children, love watching them succeed, my motto in my room is be the best you can be and that’s something we strive for everyday.  I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Hilda Jenkins spent 31 years as a high school teacher.  She retired in 1988 and now tutors her grandchildren.  She says it’s all about helping students succeed.  “Teachers, there’s something in us that when a student comes back and says I thought so much of you, I loved your class.  I didn’t like your class but you helped me so much.  You know we are reward oriented I guess.”

Rosemary Weddington of Frankfort spent 55 years teaching Spanish and now works with students at Kentucky State University.  Perhaps she summed the day up best.  “This honor is beyond a dream come true.  It’s like chocolate icing on a DQ chocolate cake..the best ever.”

In addition to the ceremony, the inductees were honored with a luncheon and recognition on the House and Senate floors.  With this week’s View from the Hill, I’m Amy Bingham.