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.

English educator Ivona Todorovic named North Dakota’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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English language educator Ivona Todorovic from Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Grand Forks Herald

It is always my pleasure to recognize exceptional educators who have been honored for their work with students. One of these is Ivona Todorovic, a high school English teacher from Grand Forks, North Dakota. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Ivona teaches English language learners in grades 9—2 at Red River High School, Grand Forks.

In addition to her work with students, Ivona organizes district-wide professional development to provide support for general education teachers about effective ways to work with new Americans and immigrant students. She helped to create “Culture Night” on her high school campus. The event has become a community-wide celebration and opportunity for her students to share their cultures through dance, music, food, poetry, and crafts.

Ivona is a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, She grew up in Zenica, about 43 miles northeast of Sarajevo in southeastern Europe. When the former nation of Yugoslavia broke up into six independent republics in the early 1990s, war and ethnic conflict ensued. That’s when Ivona and her husband, Alex, emigrated to the United States as refugees. The Todorovics arrived in Grand Forks in June, 1995.

Here in the United States, Ivona worked as a Title I para-educator at an elementary school, where her determination to teach again became stronger than ever. She worked in this role for ten years. Next, Ivona enrolled at the University of North Dakota, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Soon after, through the resident teacher program, she earned a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Reading Education. She also earned a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Sarajevo.

After completing her education, Ivona accepted a position as an English Language teacher in the Grand Forks Public Schools, where she has taught for the past 17 years.

 

Joyce Abbott: The teacher who inspired Quinta Brunson

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Philadelphia teacher Joyce Abbot with her sixth grade student, Quinta Brunson. When Quinta grew up, she modeled her character, Janine Teagues, on the award-winning television show Abbott Elementary, in part on her inspirational teacher. 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.

New Year’s resolutions for teachers

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With the coming of 2020, many educators are giving thought about making New Year’s resolutions that will help them be better teachers. If this describes you, here are six suggestions for constructive resolutions you may consider.

First, establish a positive attitude. Approaching the next semester with a cheerful and upbeat attitude will be of great benefit to you, and it will also encourage your students to do the same. Teachers know how powerful modeling can be. Model a positive attitude for your kids.

Second, get your classroom organized. Clean up your desk and storage areas. Design an extra lesson that can be used independently of your regular curriculum, to be prepared just in case something unexpected happens such as a lock-down. Think of ways you can delegate classroom jobs to your students. Create an emergency substitute teacher plan and make it easy to find.

Third, think of ways you can reduce the amount of work you take home with you. Click on this link to read an article about ways to reduce your paper load: 12 Time-Saving Assessment Strategies.

Fourth, design a lesson for your students that will encourage healthy living habits.  Present a lesson on good eating habits or the benefits of physical fitness. Consider incorporating some sort of movement in your classroom activities.

Fifth, experiment with new instructional technique or updated technology. Studies show that the human brain craves novelty. Changing things up a bit will be stimulating for you, and for your students, too.

Last, take good care of yourself. Create balance between your work and your personal life. And be sure to get plenty of rest. Taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to take care of your students.

Have a wonderful Winter Break, and a successful second semester! And Happy New Year to you all of you!