First-ever Teacher Memorial dedicated on Sunday

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Teacher Memorial

DES MOINES, IA (05/06/2012)(readMedia)-- Over 100 educators, friends, and family unveiled a new memorial at the Capitol Complex on Sunday, May 6. The memorial-established as a tribute to Iowa Teachers and their outstanding service to Iowa's students-is the 47th memorial and first to honor teachers on the Capitol grounds.

"We are pleased to be a part of the ceremony today marking the first-ever teacher memorial in our state. Iowa has a long history of attracting the best and the brightest into the profession. We pride ourselves in our strong graduation rates and our great student scores. We have fine public schools and outstanding students. We are a strong and proud profession and we know we have the most important job in the world. Tomorrow marks the first day of National Teacher Appreciation Week and I can think of no better way to launch this week than with this memorial tribute to all Iowa teachers," said Chris Bern, President of the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA).

"We are gathered to pay tribute to those thousands of teachers who, on a daily basis, make a difference. I'm sure there are other states that treasure the field of education and educators as much as Iowa, and I'm sure those states can boast of great educators. But I am also sure no state exceeds us in either of those categories," said Tim Lane, memorial organizer.

The Teacher Memorial rests on the terrace located on the northwest corner of the Capitol Complex across from the Historical and Wallace buildings on Grand Avenue. The memorial is a granite boulder with a one-word inscription "TEACHER." Private donations for the memorial were collected from members of the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD).

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The ISEA is a professional organization made up of nearly 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!