U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan acknowledges his favorite teacher, Darlene McCampbell in a video released today on the Education Department’s website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py46EaAscOA. In the video, Mrs. McCampbell joins the secretary to discuss the impact teachers have in student success and the positive role Mrs. McCampbell played in Secretary Duncan’s life. Mrs. McCampbell was Secretary Duncan’s high school English teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory School. She still teaches there today.

“It wasn’t easy work,” explains Duncan. “But there was never talk of limits, or ceilings, or what you can’t do. As good as you thought you were, she was always pushing you to the next level.”

“A reason to go into teaching is that it’s a total joy,” said McCampbell. “And yes, it’s hard work…but it’s a gift.”

The video discussion is part of a series of events celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. During the week, parents, students, administrators and public officials from across the country honor and acknowledge the work of America’s more than 5 million teachers. On Tuesday, the Secretary visited Friendship Chamberlain Elementary and Junior Academy where he stopped by special education resource teacher, Stephanie Day’s classroom to publicly congratulate her on being named the 2010 D.C. Teacher of the Year. On Thursday, Secretary Duncan went to George Mason High School in Falls Church, Va., where he visited the classrooms of three distinguished educators: Jamie Schraff, a social studies teacher and the 2010 Falls Church City Public School Gifted and Talented Teacher of the Year; Karin Tooze, the English Department chair and a former Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award nominee; and Julie Bravin, a foreign languages teacher and former Virginia State Coach of the Year who also serves as the school’s assistant athletic director. Julie is also a former Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award nominee.

Today, Secretary Duncan travels to New Orleans, LA where he will join Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), in a roundtable discussion with more than a dozen African-American men inspired to become teachers after working as Servant Leader Interns in the CDF Freedom Schools® program. On Saturday, Secretary Duncan will give the commencement address at Xavier University in New Orleans. In his remarks, Secretary Duncan will call on college graduates to become teachers and discuss the powerful role teachers play in transforming the lives of our nations children. To watch more videos of Secretary Duncan’s events celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, visit http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C5790C1D177751A3.

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