JUDY WOODRUFF:

Next: a profile of a teacher whose approach has caught international attention.

President Obama today recognized some of the country's best educators at a White House ceremony honoring the teacher of the year.

Shanna Peeples, who teaches high school English teacher in Amarillo, Texas, received the top prize. Last month in Dubai, a teacher from Maine took home the first ever Global Teacher Prize and $1 million. Nancie Atwell is using her time in the spotlight to continue her life's work.

The NewsHour's April Brown reports for our American Graduate series, a public media initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.