Asked and Answered: The Power of Being a Teacher

For Danny, a 36-year-old history teacher from Virginia, teaching is in his blood. He’s the husband, son, brother-in-law, and nephew of teachers. He loves his job and his students.

But he was bothered by a question he received one day from a student who asked him, “Mr Abell, you are so smart and funny, why would you ever become a teacher?” He didn’t know how to respond. He looked around the room and asked all the students which of them wanted to grow up to be a teacher. He looked around — not one hand went up.

The next week, Danny sat down to write President Obama a letter to ask him what he would say to his own daughters if they wanted to be a teacher. After reading Danny’s letter, President Obama invited Danny to the White House for Teacher Appreciation Day so he could answer his question in person.

Read Danny’s letter, then watch what President Obama had to say: