Teachers Honored in D.C.
Meeting the nation's best teachers at Vice President's home.
Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden honored teachers recently by holding a reception at the Vice President’s resident, the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. A teacher herself, Dr. Biden held a reception for Teachers of the Year from all 50 states.
I was curious as I stepped into the Vice President’s house. I was amazed about all the rooms. The walls were either striped or painted in different colors. In the middle of the front hall was a magnificent black podium. The podium was right near a swirling white staircase. At the top of the staircase, the Vice President’s dog Champ peered out at the humans milling about below.
Pictures of the former Vice Presidents were lined up on a glass china table. In the dining room, a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.
The podium room was loud with chat. All these great teachers from across the country mingled with Dr. Biden and Department of Education officials, sharing fine moments in their teaching career.
Dr. Biden apparently had a lot in common with these teachers, being an educator herself for almost three decades. She even declared that after the reception she would have to go upstairs and grade a big stack of papers.
She made these “best of the best” teachers feel right at home. Even the Vice President changed his schedule and made a surprise appearance at the reception!
Before Dr. Biden gave a speech to welcome the teachers, she took time to recognize the only 4th grader in the room. She singled me out, asking, “Alexandra, are you here from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps?” That surely put some “spark” in the event! The teachers all looked my way and murmured acknowledgment as I nodded a greeting.
I talked to many teachers for my story, including Dr. Biden! I was so excited for the teachers here. Many were going to the White House the next day for the President's announcement of the National Teacher of the Year in the Rose Garden. I feel so fortunate that teachers like these are in our classrooms all over the country. I can’t wait for school tomorrow!
PHOTO: Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden talks to Kid Reporter Alexandra Zhang at the Vice President's official residence, the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. (Photo Courtesy Alexandra Zhang)
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