The five career teachers in the National Teachers Hall of Fame Class of 2024 arrive in Emporia on Monday, June 17, for a week of activities that culminate in their induction into the hall. Several events later in the week are open to the public. This is the 32nd year for the NTHF induction ceremonies.
Reservations are required for the banquet and induction ceremony on Friday, June 21, in Webb Hall in Emporia State’s Memorial Union. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. The induction ceremonies begin at 7:15 p.m.
Individual tickets cost $75. A table of six can be purchased for $450. Active teachers who attend are guests of the hall of fame and will not be charged, although reservations are still required. Please contact the National Teachers Hall of Fame at 620-341-5660 to reserve. The deadline for reservations is 5 p.m. Monday, June 17.
The five members of the Class of 2024 are:
- Keith Ballard, a music teacher at Southwest Middle School in San Diego;
- Terry Kaldhusdal, a sixth-grade history teacher at Kettle Moraine Middle School in Dousman, Wisconsin;
- Shelly Moore Krajacic, an English language arts teacher at South Milwaukee High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
- Keishia Thorpe, a former English success coach and now an assistant principal at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland; and
- Joel Truesdell, a retired chemistry teacher at Kamehameha Schools Hawaii High School in Kea’au, Hawaii.
During both their visit to Washington, D.C., in May and induction week in Emporia, the national Education Support Professional joins the hall of fame inductees. The 2024 Education Support Professional is Jen Bramson, an early childhood paraeducator in Park City, Utah.
The events next week that are open to the public are:
- City Proclamation presentation, 518 Mechanic, Municipal Court Room, 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 19.
- Emporia Trivia Challenge. Inductees and Emporia teams compete, Lyon County History Center, third floor, 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 19.
- Haught and Cold Event. Ice cream floats and Municipal Band concert, Fremont Park, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 20.
- Rededication of the National Memorial to Fallen Educators. ESU campus, 10 a.m. Friday, June 21.
- Induction ceremonies. Webb Hall in ESU’s Memorial Union, 7:15 p.m. Friday, June 21. The induction ceremonies can also be viewed on the NTHF Facebook page.
During their time in Emporia, the group will also share a history tour with Roger Heineken on Tuesday, appear on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia and tape both a roundtable webinar and podcast.
About the National Teachers Hall of Fame
The National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF), located in Emporia, Kansas, was founded in 1989 as a tribute to our nation’s most important profession: Teaching.
The NTHF is committed to drawing the public’s attention to exceptional career teachers through a recognition program which annually honors five of the nation’s most outstanding PreK-12 educators with at least 20 years of teaching experience by inducting them as Members of the National Teachers Hall of Fame.