Teaching Profession Video

‘Welcome to the White House': Teachers Get a Rare Honor

By Kaylee Domzalski & Madeline Will — May 3, 2024 1:51
050224 teachers of the year state dinner BS KD 17
Education Week
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

First lady Jill Biden welcomed the national and state teachers of the year to the White House on Thursday for the first state dinner of its kind.

While traditional state dinners honor visiting heads of state, this one recognized the award-winning teachers—including Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year and an English-as-a-second-language teacher in Tennessee—for the work they do every day in the classroom. Teachers dressed in ball gowns and tuxes mingled with national leaders, including administration officials and members of Congress.

Take a peek inside the glamorous night, which featured a surprise appearance by President Joe Biden.

See Also

Jill Biden applauds teachers during the first-ever Teachers of the Year state dinner at the White House.
Jill Biden applauds teachers during the first-ever Teachers of the Year state dinner at the White House on May 2, 2024.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Teaching Profession Inside the First-Ever White House State Dinner for Teachers
Madeline Will, May 3, 2024
•
6 min read

Kaylee Domzalski
Video Producer,  Education Week
Kaylee Domzalski is a video producer for Education Week.
Madeline Will
Assistant Managing Editor,  Education Week
Madeline Will is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of school leadership and general education trends.
Related Tags:
Teacher Awards

Video

Professional Development Video How One District Is Getting Secondary Teachers Up to Speed on Reading Support
A district invests in improving secondary teachers' knowledge to help students needing reading support.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens
•
1 min read
High school teachers learn how to teach reading to struggling older readers during an AIM training at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga., on Nov. 10, 2025.
High school teachers learn how to teach reading to struggling older readers during an AIM training at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga., on Nov. 10, 2025.
Jason Drakeford for Education Week
Federal Video Here’s What the Ed. Dept. Upheaval Will Mean for Schools
The Trump administration took significant steps this week toward eliminating the U.S. Department of Education.
Mark Lieberman & Yi-Jo Shen
•
1 min read
The U.S. Department of Education building is pictured in a double exposure on Oct. 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Department of Education building is pictured in a double exposure on Oct. 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Maansi Srivastava for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Video These Students Are Using AI to Visualize Their Reading Comprehension
Students learn how to write AI prompts while demonstrating reading comprehension in this middle school classroom.
Jaclyn Borowski & Kaylee Domzalski
•
2:40
AI Reading BS
Ashley Gutierrez for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Video How One District Made Pickleball an Inclusive Varsity Sport
Kids with IEP and 504 plans play alongside their peers on one district's varsity pickleball team.
Jaclyn Borowski & Yi-Jo Shen
•
2:07
Students on Northwood High School’s pickleball team warm up ahead of a match against Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Md., on Oct. 1, 2025.
Students on Northwood High School’s pickleball team warm up ahead of a match against Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Md., on Oct. 1, 2025.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
See More Multimedia