They excite our children's imaginations, lift their aspirations, open their hearts and strengthen their values. Everyone probably can recall a story like the one I told you at the opening of my remarks today. The way their hands gripped the chalk at the blackboard. We can still, most of us, summon the pride we felt when they praised us and the absolute chill we felt when we were scolded. The role of teachers, while hard to exaggerate, unfortunately, is too often easy to overlook.
Teachers do their jobs quietly, largely isolated from other adults.
Their work, therefore, is seldom glorified by Hollywood, and rarely sufficiently rewarded by society. Andy Baumgartner is our Teacher of the Year. He spent two years in the United States Marines. He gained inner confidence, self-motivation, physical stamina at Parris Island and Camp Lejeune. I imagine they have been useful to him in dealing with young children.