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Cole had previously visited Washington, D.C., with her husband Chris Cole when she and other 2024 Teachers of the Year from around the country were honored in a first-ever state dinner for teachers at the White House on May 2, 2024, by first lady Jill Biden, herself a veteran teacher.

Cole said the state teachers of the year were invited to each bring four colleagues to the Back to School Night.

�����Ƶ�It was ... just as big of an honor as it was the first time, because I was able to pay it forward a little to my colleagues, and these colleagues ... (they�����Ƶ�ve) really been a help to me, so it was a wonderful thing for me to get to pay it forward to them and say thank you in a big way, and I wanted them to experience the White House, too,�����Ƶ� Cole said.

The colleagues Cole took with her were kindergarten teacher Jennifer Smith; second grade teacher Taylor Justice; third grade teacher Mica Haffer; and fourth grade teacher Stacy Chaffin.

�����Ƶ�They all had an active part in helping me this year, whether it be from writing letters of recommendation for me or helping film me, or they have listened to me practice my speeches, or they�����Ƶ�ve helped me with my slideshows, or I�����Ƶ�ve gone to them and said, �����Ƶ�How would you do this in kindergarten?�����Ƶ� and they would give me ideas,�����Ƶ� Cole said. �����Ƶ�So, they�����Ƶ�ve all been my right hand in this whole West Virginia Teacher of the Year (process).�����Ƶ�

She said Smith, Justice, Haffer and Chaffin aren�����Ƶ�t the only ones who went above and beyond to help her.

�����Ƶ�My whole entire school �����Ƶ� from (Ceredo-Kenova Elementary Principal Deidre) Farley down to the whole staff �����Ƶ� they all played a huge part,�����Ƶ� Cole said.

Farley added, �����Ƶ�I was just very happy for them to get that opportunity (to all go to Washington D.C. together), and they were so excited, and just the joy that it brought to them made me happy.�����Ƶ�

Cole said the event featured ice cream stands; snacks; a mini tour of the White House; and opportunities to meet other teachers and groups, to play cornhole, to see the fountain and presidential vehicle, to hear the US Navy Band play and to hear from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and First Lady Jill Biden.

Cole and her fellow Teachers of the Year also got to take a photo with Jill Biden, Cole said.

Before making their way home, Cole and her colleagues also went on a trolley tour of the monuments in the city.

�����Ƶ�One of the teachers had never been to Washington, D.C., so we wanted her to see all of the (monuments),�����Ƶ� Cole said.

She said the teachers also went shopping for their students.

�����Ƶ�We all brought our students back a little souvenir,�����Ƶ� she added. �����Ƶ�We wanted them to have a little piece of Washington, and of course, we brought back so many pictures to share with our students.�����Ƶ�