When the members of the Virginia Senate rose to their feet and applauded earlier this year to honor Debi Goforth as Virginia's teacher of the year, the elementary school librarian's thoughts turned to a small pouch she had been carrying since the selection process began.
Goforth, 51, a member of Chancellor Baptist Church in Fredericksburg and a media specialist at Courtland Elementary School in Spotsylvania County, had placed in her pouch the names of every teacher in her school, as well as those of fellow media specialists.
When the selection process for teacher of the year began, she added the names of other candidates for the recognition and the number “96,000,” representing all public school teachers in Virginia.
President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welecomed Debi Goforth to the White House as she was recognized as Teacher of the Year.
But names of contemporaries are not the only ones in Goforth's pouch. Margaret Lewis's name is there as well. Lewis was a librarian who inspired Goforth's career. Not only was Lewis a special teacher, but she drew Goforth into the church and served as her Girl's Auxiliary leader and spiritual mother.
Gofroth says her pouch helps her keep the right perspective. When she receives accolades, it reminds her, “It's not me. It's all of those teachers and all of those dear ones who invested their lives in my life.”
When she was selected teacher of the year, Goforth said, “It was a miracle that I was considered. Librarians are often not considered teachers .… It was a miraculous thing.”
Last fall, Goforth, who has been librarian at Courtland Elementary School for eight years, was tapped by fellow teachers as a nominee for Teacher of the Year in Virginia. She went on to win the chance to represent Spotsylvania County and became one of eight regional finalists for the state. The finalists appeared before a panel of 15 educators for interviews.
In her new role, Goforth now travels the Commonwealth, doing what she loves most—offering encouragement. “I realized I was able to encourage children, but now I am at the age where I can encourage the encouragers. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously. Among new teachers 30 percent leave after three years, [and] 50 percent leave after five. What they need is someone to encourage them.”
Her gift of encouragement has developed more fully in her capacity as media specialist. Goforth gets to know her fellow teachers well in her capacity as media specialist. She gratefully seizes the opportunity to advise less experienced teacherss about classroom management and instruction as well as personal issues. Today, as she travels through Virginia, Goforth is a teachers' advocate who attempts to enlist businesses as partners in educating children, to raise the level of esteem for teachers within the community, and to press lawmakers to provide adequate funding for public education in Virginia.
However, Goforth says the most significant role in her life is her relationship with Jesus Christ. The wife of Eric Goforth, pastor of Chancellor Baptist Church, she balances her responsibilities to family and church with her calling as a librarian. She draws strength and encouragement from a prayer group that meets at the Courtland school before each school day begins.
“People have empowered me by prayer and given me practical help. I feel the extra energy needed, and I'm excited about my tasks. … There will always be more to do than you can do, so prioritize! Seek God in your quiet time and then give yourself permission to go forth in him. God gives the time needed.”
Most of all, Goforth strives to be faithful to her Christian calling. About her witness, she states, “I hope they [others] can see the peace and the joy. They know me and they know the anchor of my life.”
As part of her teacher of the year tasks, Goforth went to the White House in April and will go to NASA's Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., this summer. On these and other trips, her pouch will be with her as a reminder of her calling to be an encourager and to represent her colleagues and her profession well.
No doubt, Goforth also will “go forth” with prayers and well wishes from her fellow Virginia Baptist educators whom she represents well.
Note from writer: As a career educator in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am most pleased for Debi to accept the Teacher of the Year award for me and to “Goforth” and proclaim the message God puts on her heart.