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Territorial Teacher of the Year Roselee Shoulders goes to Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. — US Vice President Michael Pence with American Samoa’s Territorial Teacher of the Year, Roselee Tela Shoulders, inside the official residence of the Vice President on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

Pence and his wife hosted Shoulders along with Teachers of the Year from other states and territories yesterday.

“We were surprised to find the presence of the Vice President in welcoming us. It was a warm and very gracious meeting,” Shoulders said yesterday via email from the nation’s capital, adding that she and her colleagues were hosted Wednesday at a luncheon at the White House.

US President Donald Trump hosted the annual National Teacher of the Year celebration where he congratulated all of the Teachers of the Year representing their respective states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

“Very, very special people. Very important,” said Trump of the educators, according to the transcript of the event released by the White House. “Each of you has dedicated your lives to our nation’s single most important resource: our children.”

It was at the event that Trump presented the 2018 National Teacher of the Year award to Mandy Manning of Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington. Trump left immediately after the ceremony due to other scheduled meetings.

In her email to Samoa News, Shoulders expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the local Department of Education for funding the trip to Washington D.C. every year and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) for hosting it.

“Thank you Education Director, Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga for providing this opportunity for the Teacher of the Year every year,” said Shoulders, an instructor at Nu’uuli Vocational Technical High School.

[courtesy photo]