President Obama honored Rebecca Mieliwocki as the 2012 National Teacher of the Year today, saying she is “the definition of above and beyond.”
“When kids finish a year in Rebecca’s class, they’re better readers and writers than when they started. But even more than that, they know how important they are, and they understand how bright their futures can be, and they know that if they work at it, there’s no limit to what they can achieve,” the president said at a White House ceremony.
Obama noted that the seventh grade English teacher from Burbank, Calif., has “high expectations” for her students and for herself, but that she also “knows that school can be fun.” The president highlighted Mieliwocki’s enthusiasm and her efforts to engage parents, including hosting family nights and offering class updates on Facebook.
“Rebecca is the definition of above and beyond,” he said. “She throws herself into her work for a simple reason: She knows that her students depend on her.”
Standing before winners of state teachers of the year awards, Mieliwocki stressed “I am not the best teacher in America. There isn’t one. All across this nation there are millions of teachers who do the work that I do, and many do it better.”
Hard to resist a post that both honors teachers and gives props to our President.
This one just gave me a good feeling all over.
(More at the Obama Diary.)
I was giddy when she said that. I love when people give President Obama respect and the *public* admiration he deserves. Everyone is so keen on bashing, but I think he is doing a great job. I know he isn't the most liberal politician, but I have never doubted that he does love us back.
ReplyDeleteShe summed it up beautifully when she said "I couldn't be prouder that you are my President" and the big applause that followed.
ReplyDeleteThey adore him! LOOK at the faces, the expressions, it's really gratifying to see the awe on their faces:
ReplyDeletehttp://theobamadiary.com/2012/04/24/hes-lost-the-youth-you-know-3/
Love the pictures. What really got me is the younger boy in the crowd who had his hands outstretched to shake his hand. I swear this President has a special connection to the young ones. Pure joy and enthusiasm generated by the crowd.
DeleteOk, teachers are fine, I guess, but wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to just increase H1B visas and bring in already edumacated foreigners to work in this country? That way, with less emphasis on education our children could focus on playing video games and with lower taxes our rich people could... buy more... cheaply-made imported luxury items! Win-win!!
ReplyDelete(There's a flaw in here somewhere, but I'll be damned if I can see it...)
Since you're bringing that up, let us not forget how education separated us from the rest of the world and paved the path to our great success. Education allowed us to be creative and find ways to increase the productivity of our fertile land. Each advance in agriculture allowed us to need fewer farmers and spend less time in the fields. That allowed our children to attend schools and gain further skills in other needed areas. That set us apart from the rest of the world and gave us the success we have today as a country.
DeleteNow, the Republicans want to take us back in the opposite direction by cutting education to lower taxes, particularly Federal and state taxes, and push the financial burden on our local school districts who will have to cut back on their educational expenses. Of course, those states who started lotteries with the promise to help raise additional funds for education, just turned around after the citizens were no longer looking and lowered state funds that went to education. They did that by slowly lowering the percentage of state money that went towards education and made up for the difference with lottery funds.
I applaud our wonderful President's support of education. Unfortunately, the federal government provides 100% of the mandates for public education yet provides 10% of the funding. The bulk of the funding for public education comes from the states. In states like mine (Pennsylvania) our Horrible Governor, Tom Corbett (R) has cut the funding by hundreds of millions in order to decimate public education and give tax dollars to his buddies in the private sector (who paid dearly for his election). These private/charter/cyber schools, of course, do not have to follow the same rules or accountability standards as the public schools, because that would be against the GOP standards of "free enterprise." (which is equal to "what applies to you should never apply to me")
DeleteSo, no matter how much everyone applauds the endeavors of Ms Mieliwocki, (and I applaud her) it will not help the kids in our country unless the same people make some noise to fight the GOP's war against public education for all.
Your correct, and I am familiar with the educational mandates (No Child Left Behind), but the Feds are also passing down unfunded mandates in other areas as well. On education, I would rather see state taxes increased vs. cutting educational programs that are needed.
DeleteAnonymousApr 24, 2012 07:02 PM
DeleteFellow Pennsylvanian here, Corbett's just begun his assault on education, the poor, elderly and immigrants.
Excellent Comment, can't agree more!
My prez is definitely an ace.
ReplyDeleteGryph, I appreciate the Obama posts.
ReplyDeleteditto! Please keep focusing on this remarkable leader.
DeleteThat just made me happy all over and also proud he is my President and cares about PEOPLE not corporation control. He's going to be speaking at the University of Colorado in about an hour. Too bad the youth in this country is so against him! All the tickets were given out this morning...free! I'm sure it will be standing room only and I don't think threatening rain will keep them away. I hope we will get to see it live!
ReplyDeleteAir Force One just touched down a few miles from me!
Just announced a new case of Mad Cow Disease in the US. Wonder if it lives on a dead lake in Wasilla, AK?
As a teacher myself, it's nice to see educators being honored instead of blamed for everything that's wrong in this country. There are amazing teachers all over this country who are doing tremendous work under extremely difficult circumstances and she represents the best of them.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Ms. Mieliwocki and thanks to her for recognizing the man who's trying to turn this country around and make it a land of opportunity for everyone once again.
As a teacher of 40 years & on my way to retirement I couldn't agree more. Seeing that clip has me teary eyed because President Obama has fought long & hard to further education in the last 4 years of his 1st term!!
DeleteTHANK YOU ( to both of the above posters)
DeleteYou have no idea just how much influence you have on your students!
I remember every teacher from 1st grade through 12, so many had such a deep effect on me that I can't even name my favorite. I got so much encouragement all the way through while battling dyslexia and by todays standards most likely ASHD. Yet here I am , decades later, a successful happy adult because of all the extra work and encouragement my teachers gave me!
Thank You, and all educators! I have fond memories of mine, I've met and interacted regularly with my children's teachers, and volunteered as a teacher's aid.
DeleteYou have the power to mold the lives of the future generation, and from what I've experienced, I commend you for your dedication and hard work.
She showed a lot of respect towards the President which we haven't seen too much of lately. It was nice to see it once again. No matter what party the President is from or how much you disagree with him, showing respect is the least we can do, especially since the whole world is watching. Some people, like Sarah Palin and other far right conservatives, don't seem to have the common sense or what little intelligence it takes to understand that concept or how it reflects upon us.
ReplyDeleteAint that the truth.
DeleteVery well said indeed!
DeleteShe is proud of President Obama, and let him know it. There are millions, many millions of us who are proud of President Obama.
DeleteShe just got to opportunity to tell him to his face.
I was not proud of Bush, most of us were not proud of Bush, and would not have said so.
Dang I actually got a lump in my throat! For the life of me I can't figure why people hate this guy.
ReplyDeleteHis race. You haven't figured that out yet? America has some of the most hateful racists.
DeleteBecause his goodness is a threat to them (plus, there is NOTHING about this guy that fits into their hate-filled, bigoted stereotypes). Thus, he has the audacity to not validate their hatred.
DeleteIt reminds me of the slanderous verbal attacks directed against Jesus. I'm not at all suggesting that Obama is a holy man or messiah, but that his very goodness and seeming humility –unusual in a high-ranking politician – is like a foil that merely makes their evil nature and corrupt deeds stand out all the more, and they can't stand it. (If you think of it in a comical way, it is like the Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote.)
Because they have nothing substantive or factual with which to attack him, their lies and personal hatred (particularly their bigotry) are all they have to work with.
Ironically, the more intensely they go after him, the more insane and baseless their attacks are shown to be (criticizing him for what he ate for dinner AT AGE SIX . . . . in a THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY?????), thus exposing both their evil and his goodness. How DARE this guy not fit EITHER of their stereotypes: evil, stupid, and dead-beat black guy, OR corrupt politician??????
Yes, I think it drives the conservatives nutty that they got nothin' on this guy.
DeletePresident Obama is a fantastic example of a intelligent, thoughtful, human being.
It was a beautiful sight to see this. I watched it this morning and thought...yes I am also very proud of my President. That is a wonderful feeling..he is approachable by many of us common people and he knows what struggling to get by is like so many of us. That in itself, is not very common among our politicians, although I do find that in Marcy Kaptur, who used to be my state rep, til they gerrymandered Ohio.
ReplyDeleteHe is an awesome man, brings tears to my eyes frequently in his words, he does make me proud of being an American again. What he has accomplished in three years with what he inherited is mind-boggling given the party of NO's refusal to work on anything together for the better of the country. I send a prayer of sorts out to the universe everyday to keep him and family safe.
Every time I hear some Fox-viewing person belittle him or call him a socialist, I sigh, because they really learned very little about history or know what government forms are. I only wish our President was a Socialist but he is not. Not even.
I was really disappointed when we didn't get single -payer insurance and that in itself would maybe give some credibility to that notion of his being a Socialist but I am thinking that he did the best with what he had to work with.He is a whole lot smarter than I and he never fails to amaze me that he is always a few steps ahead. I bet he is a mean chess player.
Obama/Biden 2012!
OT: many times today Palin's failure to be vetted was brought up many times today in the speculation of who Romney is going to tag for VP. Chuckled many times over that. Pretty soon her picture is going to be shown in the dictionary next to FAILURE.
Nobody wants to see another Sarah Palin debacle.
DeleteDo you think Cheney was referring to Palin when he talked about Romney's pick for vp is important? It's the first thing America sees of their future president decision abilities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKS27EXZLQ4
Palin's failure to be vetted
DeleteTHAT IS A MEME I CAN LIVE WITH!
AnonymousApr 24, 2012 05:52 PM
DeleteDems need to stop obsessing over Palin, and Romney. We need to obsess over getting President Obama reelected.
Just like our President, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. :) We're workin' on it.
Delete~physicsmom
The same type of hugs, looks and admiration President Obama received at the teachers award ceremony is the same exact same look, hug and admiration Gabby Gifford gave to President Obama at Gabby's last State of the Union address.
ReplyDeleteIf you are pure at heart, you can't help but to express those feelings.
I betcha Sarah Palin wishes she was receiving an award from President Obama and wished she could hug him like that.
But he won't and she can't so that's why Sarah Palin holds all that resentment against President Obama.
Everybody sees it Sarah.
FYI
ReplyDeletePRESIDENT OBAMA is on Jimmy Fallon TONIGHT!!!
I posted an FYI that President Obama is on Jimmy Fallon TONIGHT.
ReplyDeleteHere is a youtube clip:
President Obama & Jimmy Fallon: Slow Jam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnMxRC6WPXo
Kewl!!!!
De
RNC Spokesperson: Same Economic Platform For 2012 As Bush Era. Whee!
ReplyDeletehttp://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/rnc-spokesperson-same-economic-platfo
Democratic LANDSLIDE
She teaches in Burbank. She's in my neck of the woods.
ReplyDeleteMe too, neighbor!
DeleteI loved his attention to the baby that cried, how he both soothed him and made his point.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all Educators for all you do.
Wonder where Todd has been lately? He has not been seen with Sarah in a very long time. Maybe he is out rounding up more hookers.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate and agree with her words of pride in our President.I loved,loved,loved his surprise,and the heartfelt smile he beamed her way after she said it. The look on his face was worth the price of admission and then some:)
ReplyDeleteI would say the same thing if I ever had the opportunity to speak personally to President Obama. I am retired and am saddened at how so many politicians denigrate teachers and how the Republicans have been working to destroy public education in this country. Our public education system has been one of the most important building blocks in turning the United States into a great country. I have always had, and still have, great respect for education. Hooray for teachers!
ReplyDeleteObama/Biden in 2012!
Beaglemom
Rebecca said it all.
ReplyDeleteThere are thousands upon thousands of teachers across the country that do exactly what she's doing. She is simply representing them all.
The right wing attack on teachers just stop. It does this country no service to vilify those that are responsible for the prosperity of our country's future. Teachers are providing our future scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and those that will be paying into our tax base. Do we really want to educate our youth on the cheap and drive gifted professionals out of the profession by cheapening it to the status of Walmart cashier? That is certainly cutting of our collective noses. And it is something we cannot risk, since what is done now will not be apparent for another 10-20 years. And by then it will be way too late to fix.
I watched this presentation live and it was tremendously heartwarming. Ms. Mieliwocki's speech was gracious and generous to her fellow teachers. She is extremely eloquent and spoke mostly from memory, it appeared, only referring to notes occasionally. She was almost a better speaker than our President. If you can find it on You Tube, it's worth watching.
ReplyDelete~physicsmom