Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A Midlands teacher from C.A. Johnson High School has earned quite the honor.
Evet H. Jefferson is one of only 100 teachers chosen to attend an education forum in Washington DC. It is hosted by the White House Domestic Policy Council, the U.S Department of Education, and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
When Jefferson started teaching special education 18-years-ago, she knew it would take her places.
"I knew that education was the way to better things," said Jefferson. "I love kids, I love learning."
Jefferson works with high school students who have behavioral disabilities and has a close bond with all of them.
"I believe that all children can learn, I believe that all children are special, and we just need to get them where they're at and take them further."
Like many good teachers she has her own style.
"My added flavor is I'm a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard. I can be tough. So one minute I'm saying 'you gonna do!', but then the next minute I go back and say, 'but I know you can'."
Although she knew education would take her places in this world, she didn't she would be going, "To the White House! I'm going to the White House!"
It all started a couple weeks ago.
"I received my National Board Certification on November the 20th."
Then this past Thursday she got an e-mail from the president of the National Board saying congratulators.
"And then it said, we will be following up with an invite to the White House! And I was like, no way!"
At first Jefferson didn't believe it, thinking the e-mail was simply a hoax. But then she got a phone call.
"My first question to her was,'who is this and am I being punked?' And my next question was, 'what were the criteria and how did you pick me?!'"
The exact reason that she was chosen wasn't made clear, but she was told they pick the attendees on the basis of diversity and that she was hand chosen by the White House.
Evet Jefferson sets a great example to her students that hard work does pay off.
"I definitely know that I'll look back, and that this will be a special time in my life."
Evet leaves on Tuesday morning and the trip is all expenses paid.
She's not sure if she will get to meet President Barack Obama, but of course her fingers are crossed.