Elementary school teacher Maureen Murphy-Foelkl of Salem, Oregon, a 2018 inductee into the National Teachers Hall of Fame
It is always wonderful to learn that one our fellow educators has earned a prestigious honor, such as being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. One teacher that was honored in this way just this past June was Maureen Murphy-Foelkl, an elementary school teacher from Salem, Oregon.
Maureen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Oregon State University in 1982. As soon as she graduated, she accepted a position as a K-5 general education teacher with the Salem-Keizer School District in Salem, Oregon. She worked there from 1982 to 2016, at which time she retired. From 2016 to the present, she has worked as a K-5 environmental science teacher at Straub Environmental Center in Salem. In total, Maureen’s career as a professional educator has spanned 32 years.
Maureen believes in the power of a positive attitude. “Teachers need to be inspirational in bringing positive energy into lessons and out into the community,” she declares. “I am constantly seeking instructional inspiration from as many sources as I can locate.” And, clearly, she recognizes the value of the teacher as an instructional leader. “The journey is rewarding, as you positively influence the lives of your students,” she says. “Stay curious. Our children will create our magnificent future, through you, their teacher,” she concludes.
For her work in the classroom, Maureen has earned many awards. In 2017, she garnered the Teacher Innovator Award from the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation, and in 2016, she was given the Don Jeffery Award Lifelong Environmental Educator honors from the Diack Foundation. She earned a Presidential Award for Excellence in mathematics and Science Teaching in 2014, and in 2011, she was honored with the Entomological Foundation’s President’s Prize from the Entomological Society of America. And now she has been recognized by the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
The National Teachers Hall of Fame, located in Emporia, Kansas, inducted this year’s five honorees on June 22, 2018. To earn this honor, inductees must have a minimum of 20 years of full-time teaching experience in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. They must also submit a rigorous nomination packet and video.
