V.I. State Teacher of the Year Monique Mari Motta attends a reception following the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Ceremony at the White House on May 3, 2016.
Virgin Islands State Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Monique Mari Motta, is visiting Washington, D.C. during the week of May 1-7, 2016 to attend activities surrounding the annual week-long celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week. On Tuesday, May 3, Mrs. Motta and other State Teachers from accross the country attended a ceremony at the White House where President Barack Obama honored finalists and the 2016 National Teacher of the YearJahana Hayes, a history teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, Connecticut.
During her time in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Motta is serving as an ambassador of the Virgin Islands public education system, which has afforded her the opportunity to meet and network with other outstanding educators from across the country. Mrs. Motta is a special education teacher at the John H. Woodson Jr. High School on St. Croix. Part of her mission is to continue to be an advocate for students with disabilities and to help advance the quality of education for all Virign Islands' children.
Read President Obama's full remarks at the ceremony honoring the country's finest educators on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 here. Read the Presidential Proclamation for National Teacher Appreciation Week & Day 2016 here.
| State Teachers, including Mrs. Motta (3rd from far right in row two), applaude as President Obama congratulates the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes at a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. |
| Mrs. Motta receives an award at the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Ceremony at the White House on May 3, 2016. |
| Mrs. Motta greets 2016 National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes following a ceremony at the White House on May 3, 2016. |
| Mrs. Motta is congratulated by her son, Kaj Miller, right, and a White House guest, center, following the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Ceremony at the White House on May 3, 2016. |
| Mrs. Motta shares a light moment with Vice President Joseph Biden and other State Teachers at a reception following the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Ceremony at the White House on May 3, 2016. |
