 My friends, please welcome Debbie Allen and thank you so much and good evening I'm so happy to be here to celebrate the excellence of our public school educators Who are the backbone of the success of this country? I know how yes, that's right. You want to give yourself applause I? Know how important you are because I am a product of public school education grew up in Houston, Texas in the late 50s and 60s when the civil rights movement was taking hold of this country like brush fire and my teachers were all On a first name basis with my parents that was the kind of time it was. It was a time when segregation was the norm But it was in public school, it was a time when segregation was the norm That was the kind of time it was it was a time when segregation was the norm But it was in public schools that I ignited my study of literature and music and joined the orchestra playing the bass The biggest instrument I could find It was in public schools that I sharpened my dance skills as a cheerleader. Yes And as queen I was the drum major at striding in front of a 70-piece band on Thanksgiving Day Parade And if anything got me ready for the Academy Awards it was that that if you didn't drop your baton on Thanksgiving You you could make it in this world It was in public schools that I learned the beginnings of Spanish and German And realized that the world was a much wider place than Houston, Texas And to my favorite teachers I want to thank them because they made me understand what it was to be a community I want to take this moment and say thank you to Mr. Harrison, Ms. Lockhart, Ms. Mitchell, Ms. Sheila, Ms. Whedon And so many more thank you for helping to develop my mind and delivering me into this world as Debbie Allen We have got to keep the energy and the love and the support to our public school system This is where most of our genius is going to come from Let us be very clear right after elementary, junior high and high school I went to Howard University right here So with all of those incredible teachers it was how I framed and formed my true cultural identity And those teachers and professors have been my mentors from fame to Amistad to a different world To now Gray's Anatomy which is a teaching hospital I can't get away from the teaching thing I love it So I give much honor and grace to my teachers and all of you