Mr. Mitchell receives the National Teacher of the Year award from President Bush.
Mithcell said his students are a gift to him from their parents, and measures his success by their achievements -- achievements such as a Spanish-speaking student writing his first essay in English, or a special education student explaining the checks and balances system in a final exam.
He has been traveling across the United States since President Bush presented him the award in April, meeting with educators, lawmakers and other groups.