Overview of Marilyn Whirry's Keynote Presentation
December 3, 2004

Dr. Marilyn Jachetti Whirry has taught high school and college, and done numerous workshops on reading and writing. She was a former member of the National Assessment Governing Board, and was honored at the White House in 2000 as the National Teacher of the Year. Dr. Whirry spoke about her background and her tenure as National Teacher of the Year. She discussed the wealth of knowledge and insights she accumulated as she traveled the country and world. Dr. Whirry identified the elements that she believes constitute “greatness” in teachers and leaders. Some of these qualities include:

• risk taking
• search for knowledge
• passion
• compassion

Dr. Whirry believes that teachers can best lead students to lives of learning, giving, and fulfillment when they develop and apply the above elements in their teaching.