[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 16 (Monday, April 26, 1993)]
[Pages 622-623]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Teacher of the Year Award

 April 20, 1993

    Good afternoon. Please be seated.
    I want to say, first, how delighted I am to be here with Secretary 
Riley and with Senator Graham. The three of us served as Governors 
together during the 1980's when we worked constantly on strategies to 
improve our schools, when we led often difficult and long efforts to 
upgrade the standards in American education and to improve the quality 
of instruction our children were receiving.
    There were no two Governors whom I admired more during that period 
than the two who now stand on this stage with the Teacher of the Year. 
And I think both of them would join me in saying that, after all the 
testimony has been heard and all the bills have been passed and the 
funds have been raised and allocated, it all comes down to what happens 
between the teacher and the students in the classroom.
    That's why today's ceremony honoring the National Teacher of the 
Year is so important. Tracey Leon Bailey has won recognition all across 
our country for highly advanced and innovative science programs. He's 
developed and introduced into Florida's classrooms cutting-edge programs 
in molecular biology and DNA fingerprinting, subjects usually taught 
only in college and, I might add, probably only dimly understood here in 
the Nation's Capital.
    Within 3 years of being hired by a satellite high school, Mr. 
Bailey's institution had one of the strongest science programs in the 
entire State of Florida, and it won numerous national and international 
awards. These advanced programs aren't just for a favored few. Tracey 
Bailey has inspired all kinds of students, including those previously 
known as low-achieving or at-risk, to reach for excellence and to attain 
it. This is what our students need and what our country needs.
    Today, we know that a good future with high wages and rich 
opportunities rests on the foundation of quality education for a 
lifetime. The basics aren't enough anymore. All our kids need competence 
in math and science and advanced problemsolving. That's why Tracey 
Bailey's accomplishments are so important and why I am so pleased and 
proud to participate in recognizing and honoring these accomplishments.
    Tracey, you represent the best in the United States. I'm glad to 
recognize you today and to formally present you with this Apple Award as 
the Teacher of the Year for 1993.


[At this point, the President presented the award, and Mr. Bailey made a 
brief statement of appreciation.]

    In closing, I would like to also welcome the education leaders in 
Florida who are here, those representing the national education groups 
who have also come. I'd like to recognize Tracey's Congressman, 
Representative Jim Bacchus in the back, himself a great advocate of 
education. And I'd like to remind all of you that the ultimate purpose 
of the National Teacher of the Year Award is to find a way for the rest 
of us to express

[[Page 623]]

our appreciation to people all across this country who give their lives 
to our children, all of the teachers of this country who get up every 
day and do their best to try to advance the cause of learning for all 
the children of America. They are, in so many ways, our most important 
public servants.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 1:25 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.