McGraw-Hill Companies

Announcing the release of the Public Broadcasting TV Special:

"A Tribute to the Teachers of America"

This special will be broadcast on PBS stations across America this school year - see the listing below for locations, dates and times. A FREE classroom DVD of the special and "Tribute Teachers Guide" will be made available upon request to all educators through the generosity of the McGraw-Hill Companies. For further information regarding the free DVDs of "Tribute" by the McGraw-Hill Companies, please contact Elizabeth Kolodny at ekolodny@operationrespect.org or call her office at 212-904-3616.

Scheduled dates and times for "A Tribute to the Teachers of America"

Denver, Rocky Mountain PBS - Tuesday, 1/1/08 at 1:00pm
James Morgese, General Manager: jamesmorgese@rmpbs.org
Donna Sanford, Director of Programming: donnasanford@rmpbs.org
1089 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80204

Bowling Green, WBGU – Saturday, 1/5/08 at 9:00pm
Ron Gargasz, gargasz@wbgu.bgsu.edu
Special Assistant for Scheduling & National Distribution
245 Troup Avenue
Bowling Green, OH 43403
419-372-7002

Albany/Troy, WMHT - Sunday, 1/6/08 at 5:00pm
Scott Sauer, Senior Vice President: ssauer@wmht.org
4 Global View
Troy, NY 12180
518-880-3482

San Francisco, KQED - Saturday, 1/12/08 at 6:00pm
Rebecca Krouner, Content Administrator: rkrouner@kqed.org
KQED, Inc.
2601 Mariposa Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-553-2822

Boston, WGBH-TV - Thursday, 1/17/08 at 8:00pm
Ron Bachman, Director of Programming: ron_bachman@wgbh.org
WGBH-TV
1 Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
617-300-2667

Hartford, CPTV - Date TBD
Larry Rifkin
CPTV
1049 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
860-278-5310

San Diego, KPBS-TV - Date TBD
Doug Myrland: dmyrland@kpbs.org
5200 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182
619-594-2580
Keith York, 619-594-5715

Miami, WPBT-TV - Date TBD
Rick Schneider: rickschneider@wpbt.org
14901 N.E. 20th Ave
Miami, FL 33181
305-424-4250

Additional Information

"A Tribute to the Teachers of America" was taped in New York City's historic Town Hall on September 6, 2007 in front of a packed house of teachers. It premiered on New York's renowned PBS station, Thirteen/ WNET on September 4, 2007.

The following singers and entertainers, all strong educational advocates, performed on "Tribute" for virtually no fee.

  • Rosie O'Donnell
  • Bill Cosby
  • Peter and Paul (of Peter Paul & Mary), as Mary was in recovery from a back operation), singing with….
  • Elmo from Sesame Street (Kevin Clash, Elmo's creator, who makes a rare appearance to thank his special mentor/teacher)
  • Judy Collins
  • Tom Paxton (Peter and Paul sing "The Marvelous Toy" with Tom)
  • Odetta
  • Tim McCarver (Sports anchor at Fox News)
  • Steve Seskin (the co-writer of the song, "Don't laugh at Me", the anthem of the school violence prevention movement)
  • Bethany Yarrow and Rufus (Peter Yarrow's daughter, with Rufus, both committed educational advocates)
  • Baby Jay (a Hispanic positive teen rapper from Houston)
  • Christine Evans (a 16 year old, wonderfully gifted, Canadian/American singer and educational advocate)

The broadcast of "A Tribute to the Teachers of America" in your area will serve as a prelude to further school-based activities that can help transform and improve your school's climate to one of appreciation and respect, if you, your colleagues and your school leadership decide to avail yourselves of the FREE DVD of "Tribute" and the "Tribute" Teachers Guide.

The Purpose of "Tribute"

In today's world teachers are sometimes singled out and blamed for the problems and challenges in our schools today. Yet teachers work tirelessly and selflessly to inspire, nurture and educate their students, with little thanks or acknowledgment. "Tribute" can help to restore respect for teachers in schools, and in our broader society, and help them to receive the respect they richly deserve. "Tribute" can also help galvanize efforts to make schools places of greater warmth, welcome, safety and respect.

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