White House ceremony

During a ceremony at the White House on April 20, 2005, President George W. Bush presented the 2005 National Teacher of the Year award to Jason Kamras of John Philip Sousa Middle School in Washington D.C.. As of June 1, Jason Kamras will begin his full-time, one-year term as the national education ambassador.

Honored at the event were the three National Teacher of the Year Finalists: Stanley Murphy, from California, Vicki Lynn Goldsmith from Iowa, and Tamara Steen from Washington. Also recognized were the 2005 State Teachers of the Year from each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.

Emerging from the Oval Office like graduates crossing the stage, the honored teachers represented their profession with grace and dignity. Their faces reflected the feelings of individuals who had just received the highest honor for their role in fostering an educated, responsible society.

President Bush expressed gratitude and support for Jason Kamras and for each of the other honored teachers. “I appreciate the fact that good teachers instill a passion for learning,“ remarked the President. “Passion is a powerful word, and that's why the teachers are here with us, because they have instilled a passion for somebody to go to class every day to learn. When young people become good students with big dreams, they become better citizens. Our country is better off as a result of our teachers instilling passion and hope.”

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