[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.