An Amarillo public school teacher has been named one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.
Her name is Shanna Peeples, who teaches advanced placement English at Palo Duro High School.
She made an important statement today in accepting the honor of representing Texas at the national competition.
http://agntv.amarillo.com/news/pd-teacher-named-national-teacher-year-finalist
It was a statement honoring public education and the teachers who are entrusted with the task of educating public school students.
Let me reiterate the importance of “public education.” This is the system that is financed by you and me. We pay the freight. We finance this valuable contribution to the state’s future. It is our responsibility to ensure that public education is the best it can be and it produces students who we hope will grow up to the best they can be.
In the interest of full disclosure, I worked with Shanna for a time when we both were employed by the same company, the Amarillo Globe-News. She was a marvelous reporter and writer during her time at the newspaper and she has become — as the honors that have come her way have demonstrated — a tremendous educator.
She represents the very best in all of us, those who proudly support our public schools.
We should be proud of Shanna — and of all the great public educators who work on our behalf.
John, as always, you are so gracious and generous! Thank you and thank you for supporting public education. Every voice counts against the forces who would transfer public schools to corporations and wring every cent of public money for private profit. The other thing about the public in public school is that we open our doors to everyone, no matter their medical condition, behaviors, cognitive ability, language acquisition, financial situation or mental health.