Fourth-grade Brockport Hill School teacher and current New York State Teacher of the Year, Christopher Albrecht, has spent this school year on an enriching journey. Among his numerous classroom visits, speaking engagements and professional development opportunities, he says two words have stayed at the forefront of his mind: fortunate and loved.
In May, Albrecht reunited with all of the other 56 ambassadors of education, representing the 50 states and territories, for an extraordinary experience to work with legislators, collaborate with the Smithsonian Institute and meet with political leaders in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Albrecht said the trip was full of activity but an experience he will never forget.
“It brought me joy to be able to have my wife with me through most of this experience,” said Albrecht. “She is my sounding board and understands the amazing journey a teacher’s career path takes.”
He arrived in DC on Sunday, April 29, where he described the scene of a family reunion. Having met the other state teachers of the year at the previous February weeklong intensive training in San Francisco, Albrecht said the warmth and excitement filled the atmosphere when they reunited. In fact, he said seeing people from all over the country again and strengthening those relationships was his favorite part of the whole trip.
“Everyone is so different,” said Albrecht. “The range of state teachers of the year is vast. There are kindergarten teachers, math teachers, music teachers and language arts teachers, but we are all bound together by our common passion for teaching.”
The next day Albrecht and the other teachers of the year spent two hours meeting with United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to discuss important topics such as educational equity. Teachers had the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns before splitting into breakout sessions, of which Albrecht attended “Rethinking Education.”
A highlight of the trip in Albrecht’s opinion occurred later that day when the teachers visited the Smithsonian Institution. Albrecht has been a member of the Smithsonian Institute since 1995, so the opportunity to meet with many of the curators and administrators who guard some of what many believe to be America’s most beloved treasures was deeply meaningful. Albrecht was in a group that visited the Museum of Folk Life and received hours of instruction on the importance of cultural variety in the classroom. He said interacting with the curators in the Smithsonian Learning Lab was fascinating and he can envision himself working there down the road after retirement. In late June, Albrecht will return to Washington, DC to work on educational policy. Directly following this conference, Albrecht will participate in the American Folk Life Festival.
“By meeting these amazing curators, I am now getting the opportunity to collaborate with the Smithsonian. It is a dream come true,” said Albrecht. “This wasn’t just a celebration, though, there was a great deal of learning involved. Studying cultures, music and why people are the way they are is something I can bring back to Brockport with me.”
The following day featured advocacy meetings in the US Capitol Building. Albrecht arranged sessions with representatives from Congressman John Faso’s Office, Congressman Brian Higgins’ Office and Senator Charles Schumer’s Office, where he brought a number of topics to the table, including school safety, the importance of early childhood intervention and shifting the grade levels for foreign language classes. Albrecht discussed the importance of strengthening the ties between communities and schools, and stressed that there is a huge diversity of culture from one school to another. Therefore, he said a lot of the decisions that are best for a school need to be made as local as possible.
The coveted trip to the White House was another memorable moment for Albrecht. He was humbled to serve as an honored guest with his wife and other teachers of the year as the national teacher of the year was named and recognized by President Donald Trump. His classroom flag made the journey with him, too, as he promised his class he would take a photo with the flag in front of Washington’s portrait. To his class’ delight, he fulfilled his promise.
Albrecht’s adventure continued with a visit to the United States Naval Observatory and the residence of Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen. Each person was welcomed with a hug and a handshake from the second lady and music from the United States Marine Band. Albrecht described the interactions as natural and unscripted in a warm, inviting environment. The second lady even introduced their pet rabbit, Marlon Bundo.
“We were told that Vice President Pence would not be there. Suddenly, he was in the room with us. My wife and I spent nearly five minutes talking with Mr. and Mrs. Pence,” said Albrecht.
The week in Washington, DC concluded with a gala on Thursday night, where Albrecht sat with Thomas Gentzel, the executive director and CEO of the National School Boards Association. Albrecht said the evening featured a mixture of enjoyment and deep conversations about state testing challenges, safety, and how to narrow the gap between policymakers and people in the classrooms. Gentzel is deeply involved with community service, one of the pillars Albrecht has focused on throughout his career and is continuing to promote during his tenure as NYS Teacher of the Year.
Intertwined throughout the meetings and professional development opportunities during his time in Washington, Albrecht made visits to national museums and historic monuments. He took in the sights and sounds of the capital city; reflecting on the protestors exercising their first amendment freedom of speech outside the White House and witnessing the joy and awe of middle school students on class trips.
Albrecht left Washington, having to exit early, to return to Rochester to check an item off his bucket list: presenting a TEDx Talk. This talk will be available this summer after it goes through the publication process. He says he will continue to cherish the upcoming months as he fulfills his responsibilities as NYS Teacher of the Year and makes connections with teachers throughout the United States that will be with him for a lifetime.
“Though the trip to Washington, DC was amazing, this year has been an incredible learning opportunity. It has helped me gain vision and make connections that will allow me to use this great gift to benefit our schools nationally, in New York and locally. I look forward to making a difference with what I have learned,” said Albrecht.
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