Politics & Government

Lincoln Junior High Teacher Meets President Obama

Illinois Teacher of the Year Josh Stumenhorst visited the White House on Tuesday as President Barack Obama honored the National Teacher of the Year.

Naperville teacher and Josh Stumpenhorst stood with teachers from across the country yesterday as they watched President Obama announce the National Teacher of the Year.

The sixth-grade language arts and social science teacher was named the 2012 Illinois Teacher of the Year last October. On Tuesday, Stumpenhorst and his peers joined Obama in Washington, D.C. to honor Rebecca Mieliwocki, a seventh-grade teacher in California, as the National Teacher of the Year.

Obama also recognized the hard work and achievements of all the teachers in attendance at the White House. 

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"A lot of important people come visit the White House," Obama said. "But to young people in classrooms around the country, nobody is more important than the men and women we honor here today - the State and National Teachers of the Year."

Stumpenhorst was chosen from among nine finalists and 200 nominees for Illinois Teacher of the Year, which were submitted by principals, faculty, parents and students from across the state. 

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Before the ceremony at the White House, Stumpenhorst took time to visit sites in Washington, D.C. and meet fellow teachers from around the country.


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