Recently, Dr. Penny Ferguson, a long-time educator at Maryville High School, traveled to Kansas to be inducted into the 2008 National Teachers Hall of Fame. She was one of three teachers from Tennessee to ever be afforded this national spotlight. We want to once again congratulate Dr. Ferguson on this career milestone and share a video with you about her approach to education. The video of Dr. Ferguson was created by one of her former students, Carson Hunt.

Not every teacher gets to travel down the Yellow Brick Road in Kansas.  Maryville High’s English Department Chair, Dr. Penny Ferguson, is one of the fortunate few.  Emporia, Kansas-better known as Teacher Town USA-was host to the 2008 National Teachers Hall of Fame induction ceremonies held on June 18-21.

One of five teachers selected this year-the 17^th year of this program to elevate the status of teachers in America-Penny Ferguson became the 3^rd teacher from Tennessee to join the ranks of the 80 teachers in the Hall of Fame.  Her days in Kansas were full as she toured Flint Hills, Cottonwood Falls, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the William Allen White State Historic Site, the historic towns of Council Grove and Strong City, and the historic One-Room Schoolhouse on Emporia State Campus. The inductees were also the honorees one evening  at the Emporia Municipal Band’s Concert in Fremont Park.

Dr. Ferguson became a national spokesperson for education as she joined the other four honorees in speaking to the Future Teachers Academy; as a participant in a televised roundtable discussion moderated by NEA past president Keith Geiger; and as a participant on “Talk of Emporia,” a live radio talk show.  She was able to discuss issues facing education today, including No Child Left Behind and teacher burnout.

On the last evening, a reception was held in the National Teachers Hall of Fame Museum, followed by a formal induction ceremony.  In this ceremony, each honoree was featured in a video depicting his/her career in teaching, each honoree gave a speech about education,  and each honoree received the Belltower Award and a signet ring.

In addition to her national recognition, Ferguson received the following gifts and mementos:

• A plaque bearing her picture, name, and brief description for display at Maryville High
  School and in the Hall of Fame;
• A signet ring and lapel pin presented by Herff Jones, Inc.;
• A $1,000 scholarship for a student of her choice who is planning to pursue a degree in
  education presented by Sodexho School Services;
• $1,000 in materials for her classroom presented by Pearson Education;
• A permanent display in The National Teachers Hall of Fame;
• A cast bronze Belltower Award created by noted sculptor John Forsyth;
• A Marlow woodcut of a country school scene.

While Dr. Ferguson enjoyed her time with family and friends in Kansas, she realizes that there is no place like home.  She clicked her heels three times and returned to Maryville, where she will begin an exciting new year of teaching in the fall.

Other Inductees include, left to right, Suzanne Ransleben, Dr. David Lazerson, Dr. Penny Ferguson, Kathleen Engle, and Ronald Blanchard.