Trebek Says Without Teachers There Would Be No Jeopardy!

The Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament will feature Jake Allen, an NAGC member and teacher at Huntsville Intermediate School in Arkansas. The two week tournament, May 7 – 18, is presented by Farmers Insurance as part of the Thank America’s Teachers initiative.

Jake joins 14 other teachers as they compete for $100,000 and to qualify for the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. They each received a $2,500 to fund classroom projects.

“Alex [Trebek] surprised me by asking what Gifted and Talented is,” said Jake. “The contestant coordinators pick three of our interesting facts to give to him, and gifted and talented wasn’t on the list. Honestly, I don't remember much about what I said. I threw in asynchronous development, and briefly defined that.”

“One thing that really sticks with me: Alex addressed all of us as a group at the end, and he said that without teachers, they wouldn't have a show—It’s thanks to us that people are able to compete on Jeopardy!,” Jake continued.

Tune in next Friday, May 11, for Jake’s quarter final appearance!