As part of the Teacher of the Year program, Jackie Roehl traveled to Washington D.C. with other winners at the end of April to meet the President and other political figures. Zephyrus writer Ellie Lagorio spoke with Roehl about her experience.

1.  What was your favorite part of the experience?

“Meeting Obama in the Oval Office was my favorite part. Everyone kept asking me if I saw all these things like the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Obama!”

2. How did meeting Obama work?

“We all lined up outside the Oval Office by height and we went in one at a time for thirty seconds each.”

3. What else did you do while you were there?

“My second favorite part was going to Joe Biden’s house for lunch. Mr. Biden wasn’t there but his wife, the second lady, was there.”

4. What was a surprise that you didn’t expect?

“I didn’t really expect to meet Obama one on one, so I didn’t really know what to say, but it was cool because he asked me about teaching English and what it was like.”

5. What were the other teachers like there?

“There are teachers from Kindergarten to twelfth grade. There were fifty-four contestants.”

6. Who else did you get to meet?

“I met Minnesotan senators and representatives like Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken.

In the above pictures, Mrs. Roehl is featured with Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Keith Ellison, Senator Al Franken, and her husband and son. Photos courtesy of Jackie Roehl and the White House.