National Memorial Reaches Capacity: '$12 for 12' Campaign Launched to Honor Fallen Educators

Emporia, KS (03/04/2026) — The National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) has announced that the National Memorial to Fallen Educators has officially reached full capacity. The three iconic black granite "books" currently on the Emporia State University campus bear the names of 189 educators who died in the line of duty and can hold no more inscriptions.

Today, 12 additional heroes-including teachers, administrators, and school staff-are awaiting their rightful place in this solemn tribute. To ensure these legacies are not left in waiting, the NTHF is launching a month-long community campaign from March 3 to April 3 titled "$12 for 12."

The Mission: 'These Names Cannot Remain in Waiting'

The campaign seeks to raise an immediate $25,000 toward the $50,000+ cost of a new black granite monument. This new "book" will stand alongside the existing memorials to ensure that the stories of courage and sacrifice from these 12 educators are permanently etched in stone.

"We have a moral obligation to remember the educators who gave their lives to protect and serve their students," said Maddie Fennell, Executive Director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. "Every name we engrave is a promise that their sacrifice will never be forgotten."

How the Public Can Help

Supporters are invited to visit https://nthf.org/memorial/ and choose from three donation options to honor these heroes:

• $12 One-Time Donation: Honor one educator.
• $12 Monthly Donation: Honor all 12 educators with a gift each month for one year.
• $144 One-Time Donation: Honor all 12 educators immediately.

The public is also encouraged to spread the word on social media using the hashtag #12for12. Local businesses are invited to participate via corporate matching to help the campaign reach its $25,000 milestone.

About the National Memorial to Fallen Educators

Located on the Emporia State University campus, this is the only national site in the United States dedicated to K-12 school employees who died while performing their duties. The names etched here represent tragedies ranging from natural disasters to school violence, serving as a place of pilgrimage for families and a beacon of respect for the profession.

The 12 Educators to be Honored*:

• Annie Louise Keller, 25, teacher at Centerville Country School (Illinois), killed by tornado debris on April 19, 1927.
• Diane Peterson, 26, English teacher at Branham High School (California), killed in a stabbing at school on June 16,1978.
• Christopher J. Trakimas, 61, boiler mechanic, Philadelphia School District (Pennsylvania), died May 18, 2016, after a workplace explosion.
• Nohema Graber, 66, Spanish teacher, Fairfield High School (Iowa), killed by two students on Nov. 2, 2021.
• Dan Marburger, 56, Principal at Perry High School (Iowa), killed from a school shooting on Jan. 14, 2024.
• Ryan Lantz, 52, journalism teacher at Liberty High School (West Virginia), died from a traffic accident in a school parking lot on Feb. 20, 2024
• Kevin Garrison, 56, maintenance supervisor, Elkhorn Public Schools (Nebraska), died Sept. 4, 2024, in a construction incident.
• Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 52, both math teachers at Apalachee High School (Georgia), killed in a school shooting on Sept. 4, 2024.
• Leah Seneng, 60, art teacher, Bryant Middle School (California), died Nov. 22, 2024, from a rabid bat bite sustained on school property.
• Erin M. West, 42, teacher, Abundant Life Christian School (Wisconsin), died in a school shooting on Dec. 16, 2024.
• Carol Mendiola Mooers, 48, school counselor in Unalakleet, Alaska, was killed in a commuter plane crash while traveling to Nome to pick up students for college tours on Feb. 6, 2025.

*Listed in chronological order of death

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