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American Morning

Interview with 'Teacher of the Year'

Aired April 24, 2002 - 07:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: For Chauncey Veatch, being a teacher isn't just a job; rather it's a calling. He teaches social studies at Coachella High School in Thermal, California. That's near Palm Springs. But his work does not end when the closing bell rings at 3:00. He spends countless other hours in the community, where he helps students and parents.

This morning, Mr. Veatch is in Washington, D.C., where in a couple of hours, he will be honored as the nation's teacher of the year in a ceremony at the White House. Earlier, I talked with him about his work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): Mr. Beach, congratulations on the award. Did you have any idea this was coming your way?

CHAUNCEY VEATCH, NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR: I had no idea. I didn't expect it. A year ago this time, I was at the high school in my second year at the high school, and my colleagues elected me as our high school teacher of the year. And so, I couldn't even expect that. So it goes without saying, this is a great surprise, but it's a great honor.

CAFFERTY: Indeed. You followed a bit of a nontraditional path into the world of education. You spent 22 years in the Army. Tell me a little about how you got your first teaching job.

VEATCH: Well, it was amazing. It wasn't my plan at that time. I got out of the Army. I called a district, which is real close to where I live, and I said, well, do you need a substitute teacher? I'd like to go into teaching, and I'd like to start as a sub. And the lady persuaded me the next day to interview for a position. And I thought, OK, I'll try it. And I did. I was selected, and six days later, I was in the classroom for the first time in my life. And it was pretty exciting.

It was intimidating in that I thought I've got to do a great job. This is going to be maybe a little bit difficult. And you know what? On the second day, it was the greatest thing I had ever done in my life. And I thought, boy, I love this. I'm going to just do the best I can. I am going to work really hard to be a good teacher.

CAFFERTY: What was it that triggered that response in you, do you suppose?

VEATCH: To become a teacher?

CAFFERTY: You know, just that the second day, you said you knew you had found what you needed to do here.

VEATCH: Well, the very same thing that I still tell people today when they ask what teaching is like, I say come and visit our classroom, and you'll fall in love with the kids, just as I have. It's impossible not to love them. It's the most rewarding work by the second day to make plans for their achievement and their success over the course of the year. It's second to none.

I fell in love with the kids. I later fell in love with their community and their parents, their moms and dads. And it just gets better every day. I can't believe how lucky I am to be in the classroom with these great kids. They are wonderful.

CAFFERTY: Now, you do a lot of work with the children of migrant workers out in California. You intentionally asked for children who have had perhaps not the easiest time in school. Some kids with learning problems, some kids with drug problems. Why that group of kids? And how big a challenge is it to get them to believe in achieving big dreams themselves? A lot of these kids are from hard scrabble existences.

VEATCH: Well, you know, I believe there is a champion in every single one of these kids. I really do believe that every student can learn. My job as a teacher is not to bemoan what they may be lacking when they come to the classroom. It's to celebrate whatever they bring.

So whatever package comes to me, I know I have something to work with. I know that. And I do my very best to figure out what's best for that student, to perhaps minimize what might be some problems they might have and build on their strengths. And it works for every single student.

Again, yes, I have a lot of the students that you just categorized. I want them in my classroom. These are the students I believe that we can make the most difference with. And so, I tailor it. If it's a student who may have been in trouble, perhaps a little bit in a legal nature, I welcome them and so far so good.

CAFFERTY: The public schools across the country have come in for a fair amount of criticism. You have an insider's view of how the system works or in some cases fails to work. What needs to be done to make the public education system better than it is now.

VEATCH: Well, any system can always improve. But I think we need to back up just a little bit and recognize that any profession, any single solitary profession has those who might do a better job at it, and those who might not be as strong. And what we need to do is if you believe, as I do, that every student can learn. I also believe that every single teacher can get better, and that's what we can do as professionals in our own profession, to do what we can to help out our colleagues, so that if there are some areas that they might be lacking, they can get a little stronger.

CAFFERTY: Indeed. And you have taken it to yet another level. I appreciate your time with us here this morning on AMERICAN MORNING -- continued success and good luck to you and thanks for being with us.

VEATCH: Thank you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Chauncey Veatch, the national teacher of the year.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAFFERTY: And the award ceremony for him with President Bush set for 10:00 Eastern at the White House. CNN plans to bring you some of that ceremony live.

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