    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [April 30, 2003]
    [Pages 396-398]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring the National Teacher of the Year
    April 30, 2003

        The President. Please be seated. Welcome to the First Lady's Garden.
    It's an appropriate place to honor some of our Nation's finest citizens.
    After all, the First Lady was and is a teacher,
    and I'm glad she said yes. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the teachers, who have traveled from all over the
    country, for being here today. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you
    for your hard and rewarding work. The 54 teachers we honor today deserve
    the respect and the gratitude of our entire Nation. This is our way of
    thanking you all for your dedication, your service, and your love.
    Welcome to Washington.
        I want to thank the Secretary of Education for joining us up here. When I picked the Secretary of
    Education, I wanted somebody who knew something about public education.
    I wasn't interested in a theorist. I was interested in finding a hands-
    on person. I knew Rod Paige when I was the Governor of the State of
    Texas, and he was the superintendent of the Houston Independent School
    District. He set high standards for every child in that district. He
    worked hard with teachers to achieve those standards. I really want to
    thank Rod for the job he did in Texas and, as importantly, for the job
    he's doing for America. Mr. Secretary, welcome.
        We've got some fine Members of the United States Congress with us
    today: from the State of Georgia, Senator Miller
    and Senator Saxby Chambliss--thank you, Zell
    and Saxby, for coming; from the State of North Dakota, Senator
    Dorgan and Senator
    Conrad--I'm honored to see both of you all; Senator Jeff
    Sessions and Senator Richard Shelby from the State of Alabama. It turns out that some of
    the finalists are from these States. [Laughter] And these Senators and
    Members of the House are here to join with Laura
    and me in thanking you all for your hard work. From the House of
    Representatives: Artur Davis from the State of
    Alabama; Mac Collins ``Mac'' from the State
    of Georgia; Richard Burr from the State of North Carolina; Earl
    Pomeroy from the State of North Dakota; and
    Spencer Bachus, who happens to be the
    Congressman of the particular lady standing up next to me. Thank you all
    for coming. Thank you for your service and your dedication to education.
        I do want to congratulate the National Teacher of the Year
    finalists: Lorraine Johnson of Newnan,
    Georgia; Melissa Bartlett of Statesville,
    North Carolina; Jennifer Montgomery of
    Bismarck, North Dakota; and Betsy Rogers. ``Betsy''
    Dawson I'm going to have a little more to say about her
    later. I'm not going to tell you who won yet--[laughter]--but they might
    have figured it out. [Laughter]
        I want to thank Tom Houlihan,  Thomas who is
    the executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers. I
    appreciate your service so very much. And I want to

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    thank the Council of State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc. for
    organizing this annual event to recognize our fine teachers. I also want
    to thank Edward Richardson, who's the
    chief State school officer from Alabama, Ray Simon
    from Arkansas, and Kent King  Kent from the State of
    Missouri for joining us as well.
        The teachers we honor today come from many different backgrounds,
    from every part of this country. What unites them all is the deep
    conviction that every child can learn if given the chance. We honor them
    because they are willing to raise high expectations, to raise the
    standards for every child, because they know that with high expectations
    each child can rise to meet them.
        When I campaigned for President, I used to say one of the
    commitments I would make is we would challenge the soft bigotry of low
    expectations. You all have challenged the soft bigotry by setting high
    standards. You believed in the worth of every child. A good teacher
    believes in the possibilities of every boy and girl. A good teacher sees
    what is possible, and a good teacher believes in the responsibility of
    every school to bring out the best in every student.
        In 2001, we passed what's called the No Child Left Behind
    legislation. I love that phrase, because it's a commitment of our Nation
    to make sure that not only does every child excel but no child gets left
    behind. Members of both parties, both Republicans and Democrats, came
    together to pass this law. Inherent in the law is the vision of high
    standards and money to meet the standards and historic reforms, all of
    which put the education decisions of America in the hands of teachers
    and principals and local officials.
        But we also said that as we seek excellence for every child, we must
    design accountability systems at the State level to determine whether or
    not each child is learning. In order to make sure no child gets left
    behind, we must understand whether or not each child is learning to read
    and write and add and subtract. And if they are, there will be plenty of
    praise. And if they're not, we will work to design programs to make sure
    no child gets left behind.
        That's the crux of the law. Every State met the law's January 31st
    deadline for submitting their accountability plans for approval. I'm
    pleased to announce today that Secretary Paige has approved plans from Arkansas, Missouri, and Washington
    State, which bring the total number of approved plans to 16, covering 16
    million children in public schools across America.
        Secretary Paige and his Department
    will continue working with the rest of the States to get the plans
    approved quickly as possible. People are responding to the challenge at
    the local level. People are beginning to develop the accountability
    systems to show your States and your communities that you're doing your
    job, leaving no doubt in the minds of the parents and taxpayers and
    citizens--some of whom praise public schools, some of whom are critical
    of public schools--that in fact, you're performing. They will understand
    why you're here being honored in Washington, DC, as one of the top 54
    teachers around our country.
        Education reform depends on good laws and good plans, but you and I
    know it ultimately depends upon good teachers. Last June, States
    submitted to the Department of Education strategies for ensuring that
    all teachers are highly qualified. By this September, States will assess
    the programs they expect to make by 2005 and 2006 school year. And the
    Department is working with States to help teachers meet new definitions
    of teacher quality, so that every classroom will have a well-trained,
    highly effective teacher like you all.
        Our 2003 National Teacher of the Year is an example of the highest
    professional standards and the finest personal qualities. Betsy
    Rogers ``Betsy'' Dawson teaches first and
    second grade students in Leeds, Alabama. She is an accomplished teacher
    with 22 years in the profession who could have her pick of any

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    school; yet, she chooses to teach in a school in an underprivileged
    rural area because she believes that devoted teachers and principals can
    make a difference in the lives of students from every background.
        Teaching is a tradition in Betsy's ``Betsy''
    Dawson family. Her grandmother was a teacher. Her mother
    taught Sunday school for 50 years. In her own career, Betsy Rogers is
    known for a commitment to students that goes beyond school hours. She
    gives before-school tutoring to students who need extra help learning to
    read and volunteers on school committees after hours. She attends
    sporting events and birthday parties for her students. She helps the
    families of disadvantaged students through local church and community
    groups.
        Betsy ``Betsy'' Dawson also encourages
    her students to help each other. As she puts it, ``No matter what your
    circumstances in life, you can always give.'' Teachers like Betsy Rogers
    put children on the road to becoming good citizens and, as importantly,
    successful adults. They show students that there are a lot of caring
    people ready to help along the way.
        I thank every one of our Teachers of the Year for your determination
    and your love. Each of you is an example of excellence in the classroom.
    Each of you is a model for a young teacher to follow. And your students
    are fortunate to have talented and good-hearted people in their lives,
    and our Nation is fortunate to have you in the classroom. Thank you for
    your work. May God bless what you do.
        And now I'm pleased to introduce the National Teacher of the Year,
    Betsy Rogers. ``Betsy'' Dawson

    [At this point, Helen Elizabeth Dawson Rogers made brief remarks.]

        The President. Thank you all for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:25 a.m. in the First Lady's Garden at
    the White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of National Teacher of the Year
    Helen Elizabeth Dawson Rogers.