More Resources Remarks by President & First Lady

Good evening. Congratulations to Kathy Mellor and the many outstanding teachers here tonight. This is an honor well deserved. We thank all of you for your hard work and sacrifice, dedication and ability, commitment and service. As accomplished teachers, you help students discover the mind, the heart, and our humanity. Your work is so essential to our country. You are the continuous source of our freedom and our security.

This evening, there will be much discussion about teaching. That's how teachers spend their time—thinking and talking about their calling. We're kind of obsessed that way—preoccupied with lesson plans, accumulation of knowledge, and endless preparation. We go through life preoccupied with "teachable moments."

Admit it. Some of you are thinking about your students right now! There isn't a night off, because teaching is a lifelong occupation, a devotion, and a profession. Teachers understand the magic of the classroom, and the lasting, formative, and enduring influence on students. I know many of you in this room, and you've all said that education is a powerful passion, a passion that unites each of you with millions of teachers around the country.

I thank you for that passion and for your performance. On behalf of the president and Mrs. Bush, and the nation, thank you for your outstanding and generous efforts to educate our children.

In fact, I'm mindful of a teacher's influence as we celebrate at this very location. Nearby, just a few blocks away, is Howard University, one of the great centers of learning in our country. Many years ago, a young law student was admitted. His name was Thurgood Marshall. He was a fantastic student. And he drew the attention of a talented legal mind, Professor Charles Hamilton Houston, who befriended him and became his mentor.

This is how teaching can make a difference. Marshall learned constitutional law from Houston. Seeds were planted. Marshall's advocacy forever changed our country for the better. And he remembered the many lessons from his mentor when representing Oliver Brown against the Topeka Board of Education. The teachings were put into practice. The result was the end of segregation when the Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education 50 years ago. As we mark that anniversary this year, we should remember that this monumental and landmark event was the product of a pupil and a teacher who both dared to dream and to use their knowledge to set us free.

Like Charles Hamilton Houston, your example can make a difference for your students—and for other teachers. So earlier today I announced a new program that may assist you in your work. It is called the "Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative." The initiative will include:

• Teacher Roundtables to share information and advance the profession;
• Summer Workshops for successful teachers to share experiences with fellow teachers;
• A Research-to-Practice Summit, which will be held this summer in Washington to share scientifically based research about effective teaching; and
• Teacher E-mail Updates to keep teachers informed of the latest policies, research, and developments in the profession.

We want to do everything possible to give you the resources you need and to help you share your experiences with other teachers. I believe this initiative will be a valuable, dynamic, and lasting addition to American education.

Again, on behalf of a grateful nation, my congratulations to each of the award winners and their families.

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