National Teachers Hall of Fame
August 2025
2025 NTHF Auction: your Help is Needed
We’re excited to invite you to be a part of something truly special to celebrate American Education Week —the 2025 National Teachers Hall of Fame Annual Auction, on Thursday, November 20th beginning at 6pm CT.
We’re reaching out to ask for your support—whether you’ve donated before or this would be your first time—with a contribution to this year’s auction. Every gift, big or small, plays a vital role. Popular donations include admission or sports tickets, autographed memorabilia, jewelry, art, themed baskets, gift certificates, hotel or travel packages and celebrity-related items. We especially love when donors get creative or partner with others to make their contribution extra special!
Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, our annual auction continues to be one of our most successful and joyful fundraisers. With live coverage on KVOE 1400 AM, 96.9 FM, and streaming on https://kvoe.com/kvoe-tv/ , we’re able to reach supporters across the nation and bring attention to the importance of honoring and uplifting our teachers.
Please let us know your donation using any one of these convenient ways:
1) go to https://forms.gle/WEFViCLZonRsz3yh8 and complete the online form
2) contact Bob at hallfame@emporia.edu or 620-341-5660 and he can send you a form
We kindly ask for a brief description and retail value of your item(s) by Monday, October 20th, and hope to receive all donations by November 3rd so we can showcase them online ahead of the auction.
Thank you for your continued support of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. We’re deeply grateful to have you in our corner.
New COO Named for the NTHF
We’re excited to share some great news from the Hall of Fame! Lisa A. Graff has been named the new Chief Operating Officer of the National Teachers Hall of Fame, starting August 1, 2025. Lisa has been with us since October 2024 as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director—and in that time, she’s already shown how deeply she cares about honoring educators and keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. With more than 25 years of experience in K–12 education as a counselor, administrator, and advocate, Lisa brings the heart and hustle we need as we grow our work.
“Lisa’s passion for education and deep understanding of both operational excellence and relationship-building make her the perfect leader for this role,” shared Maddie Fennell, Executive Director of NTHF. "Lisa’s experience and energy will help us stay organized, connected, and inspired as we continue lifting up amazing teachers and creating a legacy that honors the profession we all love."
NTHF Trustee Named a Rising Star by Emporia Main Street
Tayler Wash, NTHF Trustee and Emporia Assistant City Manager, was honored at the Emporia Main Street Annual meeting as a "Rising Star". Their recognition stated "At Emporia Main Street, we have a special affinity for individuals whose job descriptions can often be summed up as “And other duties as assigned”. Tayler is simply everywhere. She has taken on some really tough negotiating tasks with a community in transition. She finds common ground while staying true to objectives. She is a government official during a time when everyone with a keyboard thinks they can do things better, and she communicates and collaborates in these tough environments with positivity and a sense of optimism. Tayler continues to take on tough projects so we can avoid kicking the can down the road on regional issues, and she has clearly established herself as an emerging asset not only in governance, but as a community leader. She’s a rising rock star."
