It’s National Teacher Day, a time to celebrate the teachers who have made an impact on our lives. (Of course, we should do that every day.) It’s also an opportunity to think about what makes teachers so special. This is something we love talking about at OOM. And while everyone has a different opinion, one thing I think we can all agree on is that teachers are selfless.

That was a theme of the National Teacher of the Year ceremony at the White House a couple weeks ago. Rebecca Mieliwocki, a 7th grade English teacher from California, was honored at the White House as the 2012 National Teacher of the Year. In his speech, President Barack Obama singled out Mieliwocki’s devotion to her students.

“Rebecca is the definition of above and beyond,” the President said. “When kids finish a year in Rebecca’s class, they’re better readers and writers than when they started. But even more than that, they know how important they are. And they understand how bright their futures can be. And they know that if they work at it, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.”

The day before the White House event, all of the National Teacher of the Year nominees attended a reception hosted by Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the Vice President’s residence. Scholastic News Kid Reporter Hannah Prensky was there, too, and got to interview Mieliwocki, as well as Dr. Biden and other stand out teachers.

“Our students are our future,” Mieliwocki told Hannah. “So we, their teachers, must do our best to inspire them and guide them to greatness.”

That outlook is something all teachers — whether they’re nationally recognized or appreciated by just one person — bring to the lives of students. And it is what allows teachers to have a never-ending impact on us.

Let us know what teacher made the greatest impact on your life in the comments below, and read more about 2012 National Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps site!

Photo: Kid Reporter Hannah Prensky with 2012 National Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki. (courtesy Hannah Prensky)