Author Archives: Terry Lee Marzell

About Terry Lee Marzell

Terry Lee Marzell holds a bachelor's degree in English from Cal State Fullerton and a master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cal State San Bernardino. She also holds a certificate for Interior Design Level 1 from Mt. San Antonio College. She has been an educator in the Corona Norco Unified School District for more than 30 years.

Today’s journey to Norway’s Kon-Tiki Museum connects to fifth-grade memories

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I was just a fifth grader when I discovered, quite by chance, a stack of very intriguing books on the back counter of my teacher’s classroom. The books were a class set of Kon-Tiki, an internationally well-known memoir authored by Norwegian archeologist and explorer Thor Heyerdahl.

The original Kon-Tiki raft constructed by Norwegian explorer and archeologist Thor Heyerdahl. He and six others daringly sailed the raft 4,300 nautical miles of open sea from Peru to Polynesia in 1947. Photo Credit: Terry Lee Marzell

The front cover depicted a photo of a group of men bravely riding out a storm at sea on a primitive raft. The situation appeared precarious, as the waves were high and the raft was nearly submerged. Flipping the book over to read the summary on the back cover, I learned that the volume described a daring adventure by Heyerdahl and five others—modern-day adventurers. On April 28, 1947, the group of men sailed from Peru on a raft they built from balsa wood, bamboo, and hemp. After three months and 4,300 nautical miles on the open sea, they finally sighted land. The next year Heyerdahl published his account of that daring voyage. Translated into sixty-five languages, Kon-Tiki became a classic, inspirational story of modern-day daring and courage—a saga of mere mortals and their triumph against the power of the untamed sea.

My fifth grade teacher never assigned this book to our class. In fact, she never even mentioned Thor Heyerdahl or his explorations to us. Over the decades that have passed since I left elementary school, I’ve barely given a thought to the book or the explorer I briefly discovered in elementary school. That is, not until earlier this month, when I unexpectedly found myself standing in front of Heyerdahl’s actual, real-life Kon-Tiki, housed in a maritime museum located in Oslo, Norway. Instantly transported back in time to my fifth grade year, I was once again intrigued by the story of this amazing explorer and scientist.

The author Terry Lee Marzell examines the original Kon-Tiki raft and other exhibits at the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Norway. Photo Credit: Hal Marzell

My first impression was that the Kon-Tiki was much larger than I previously envisioned. When you hear the word “raft,” you picture something about the size of a dining room area rug. By contrast, the Kon-Tiki  is an impressive 45′ x 18′, with an incorporated cabin that measures 14′ x 8′, and a mast that is 29′ in height. I suddenly realized that if you were going to travel 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean, with food and water and other necessary supplies for six men, you would need a raft bigger than an area rug!

My second thought was how delicate the Kon-Tiki appeared to be. Remember that today, the raft is 77 years old, and it has survived a 101-day oceanic voyage, not to mention it crashed on a reef in Raroia in the Tutamotu Islands, and then was towed back to port. Furthermore, the raft was originally constructed of split bamboo over lightweight balsa wood logs that were lashed together with hemp ropes. The cabin was constructed from plaited bamboo and roofed with banana leaves. Materials chosen because they are lightweight and sturdy, but ocean-worthy? I would personally be reluctant to would trust them.

But wait! There’s more! The museum also houses Heyerdah’s reed boat, the Ra II. This vessel was constructed of papyrus and was launched from Morocco in an attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, there are exhibits that detail stories about the famous scientist’s journey to Fatu Hiva, together with his wife, Liv; expeditions to the Galapagos and Easter Island; and details about the explorer’s Tigris voyage. The museum is a treasure trove of information about this amazing archeologist and scientist.

You can learn more about Thor Heyerdahl, view more photos of his raft, and explore the Kon-Tiki Museum with your students at this official maritime museum website.

Efrain Casillas named Arizona’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Arizona music educator Efrain Casillas has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Chicanos Por La Causa

I am always pleased to share the story of an exceptional educator who has been recognized for their work with young people. One of these is Efrain Casillas, a music educator from Arizona. He has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Efrain serves as the Co-ordinator of Music Programs for the Tolleson Elementary School District (TESD) in Phoenix. There he created the district’s first mariachi, jazz, marching, concert, and Latin jazz bands. Under his expert direction, the Tolleson Elementary School Mariachi Band competed at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, where they won first and second place in the Choice Awards—three years in a row! The band has also performed at Disneyland in the Disneyland Parade. Efrain’s Latin jazz band has participated in the Fiesta Bowl Parade for three consecutive years. Currently, Efrain teaches both general and instrumental music at two schools in the district.

For his work in the classroom, Efrain was a featured guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2020. He garnered an Esperanza Latino Teacher Award from Chicanos Por La Causa in 2018 and a Music Teachers of Excellence from the Country Music Association Foundation the same year. Furthermore, he was nominated for the Life Changer Award in 2017, and in 2015 he was selected TESD’s Teacher of the Year. He has also served as a presenter for the National Symposium on Multicultural Music at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2004. He is an active member of the Arizona Music Education Association.

As Arizona’s Teacher of the Year, Efrain will receive $15,000 from the Arizona Educational Foundation. He will travel to National Teacher of the Year events, meet the President at the White House, and attend the International Space Camp in Alabama. The Arizona Educational Foundation says the honored educator will also be considered for an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University.

Efrain earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and his teaching certificate in education, both from Western Connecticut State University. His career as a public-school music teacher spans 24 years.

 

TV personality Mary Hart was once a high school English teacher

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Celebrated television host Mary Hart is a former high school English teacher from South Dakota. Photo Credit: South Dakota Hall of Fame

There are many talented individuals in Hollywood who were originally classroom teachers. One of these is Mary Hart, a television personality known best or her role on Entertainment Tonight. She was once a high school English teacher in South Dakota.

Mary Hart was born Mary Johanna Harum in Madison, South Dakota, on Nov. 8, 1951. As a young woman in 1970, she entered a beauty pageant, where she was named Miss South Dakota. She subsequently became one of the top ten contestants for the Miss America Pageant. During the pageant, Mary was interviewed for national television, and that was when she discovered her passion for broadcasting.

Two years later, Mary earned her Bachelor’s degree from  Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Once she earned her degree, she accepted a position teaching English at Washington High School in Sioux Falls. But she never forgot her aspirations for broadcasting. During the years she worked in the classroom, Mary moonlighted as a host on a local cable show.

Before long, Mary relocated from South Dakota to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to accept a position as a broadcaster there. In Iowa her repertoire expanded, encompassing both television and radio shows. By 1976, Mary was a household name in Iowa, where she co-hosted a talk show called Dannysday. In 1979, Mary moved to Los Angeles, where she a secured position hosting PM Magazine and worked with Regis Philbin on The Regis Philbin Show. But it was her appearances on Entertainment Tonight (ET) that made her a household name nationwide. She worked on the television show for 29 years, and by the time she retired from the show in 2011, she had set a Guinness World Record for the longest-serving entertainment news host.

In addition to her work as a television host, Mary hosted the Tournament of Roses Parade from 1984 to 1989, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1987. She received Emmy nominations for both. In 1989, the former English teacher was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also been inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

In addition to her work in broadcasting, Mary is committed to numerous charitable projects. For example, she is an advocate for women’s issues, personal achievement, and improving children’s lives. In fact, she has worked tirelessly for the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.

Mary Hart: A true Chalkboard Champion.

 

Becoming inspired by reading about great educators

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Now that educators have had a chance to get some rest and recreation, they may be thinking about getting ready to go back to school. When contemplating how to be the best teacher you can be in the upcoming year, it helps to have some really great role models. There are many gifted educators in our history, and also in our present time, that can serve as excellent examples of the profession. Recognizing and honoring them is what this blog is all about! Each week I endeavor to share stories about wonderful teachers that can serve as a source of ideas, inspiration, and pride for us all.

In addition to reading about exceptional educators on this blog, you can learn more about some remarkable teachers in my books, Chalkboard Champions and Chalkboard Heroes. Each volume is packed with insightful stories about remarkable educators in American history, and the historical implications of their pioneering work. These books make great sources of inspiration for individuals in the teaching profession and those aspiring to become teachers some day. They are also appealing to history buffs and social scientists.

Reading stories about remarkable educators can remind you of why you chose to become a teacher in the first place, affirm your faith in the value of the profession, and ignite your passion for a new school year. Order your copies from amazon.com today! And be sure to subscribe to the blog for your daily dose of inspiration. Above all, have a great year!

Award-winning actress Quinta Brunson inspired by her teacher, Joyce Abbott

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Joyce Abbot with her sixth grade student, Quinta Brunson. Photo credit: University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

There are many praiseworthy educators in classrooms all around our country, but not all of them receive the praise they are due. One of these teachers, though, has received more praise than she could ever have imagined. She is Joyce Abbott, a retired elementary teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joyce is, in part, the inspiration for a character on the award-winning television show, Abbot Elementary. She was the teacher of sixth grader Quinta Brunson. When Quinta grew up, she became the creator and star of the show, and while writing the show, she didn’t forget her former teacher.

Abbott Elementary highlights the difficulties faced by an inner-city school staff as they teach their young students. Those difficulties include substandard facilities, underfunding, lack of educational resources, and, in some cases, poor leadership.

The show has garnered an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2022, a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy in 2022, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2023.

Joyce taught for 27 years in inner-city schools within the Philadelphia School District. Most recently, she served as a climate manager at Andrew Hamilton Elementary, a K-8 school located in West Philadelphia. In this role, she ensures the campus environment is safe and conducive to learning.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Joyce is also a veteran of the US Army, where she attained the rank of staff sergeant. She spent ten years in the military, including a ten-month tour of the Person Gulf during the Persian Gulf War.

Joyce has admitted publicly that it wasn’t always easy for her to succeed in the classroom. “At the onset of my journey, it was very difficult. I had 36 students my first year, very limited textbooks, several behavior problems, and in addition to several students academically challenged,” Joyce recalls. But she says that it was her passion that kept her in the classroom.

Joyce admits that teachers in the classroom today continue to face obstacles in their profession. “It’s difficult with the many outside challenges that teachers are facing today,” she asserts. But she encourages them to keep up the good work. “Know that you can do it, believe in yourself, and believe in that child. They need you, sometimes you’re their only hope,” Joyce says. “Just know that every day that you’re going in, even though every day may not be great, you are making a difference,” she concludes.

This Chalkboard Champion earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, in 1983, and her Master’s degree in Education from Cheyney University. She is listed in the Who’s Who Among America’s Finest Teachers.