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.

Ruby Cole of Texas: One of the founders of the DKG

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Chalkboard Champion Ruby Cole, one of the original founders of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. (Photo credit: DKG)

In 1929, a group of accomplished women educators in Texas got together to create an organization to advance the interests of women teachers. These women, who came from all over the state of Texas, formed the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an organization for women teachers to work towards improving professional preparation, recognizing women’s work in the teaching profession, and providing scholarships for those needing assistance in advancing their professional expertise. One of these founding women was Ruby Cole.

Not much is known about Ruby’s early life. She was born on December 2, 1885. As a young woman, she enrolled at Sam Houston Institute in Huntsville, Texas. In her sophomore year of college she transferred to Washington College. She completed the requirements for her teaching degree at Southwest Texas State Normal College. In her later years she completed graduate study at the College of the Incarnate Word and at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas.

Early in her career as an educator, Ruby was active in the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and various women’s clubs. She was a member of the Teachers Retirement Committee of the Texas State Teachers Association, and she served as the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee of Elementary Principals. Because she had earned an excellent reputation in her community, she was invited to be one of the original founders of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society (DKG).

Ruby was very active in Delta Kappa Gamma’s national committees. She served as a member of the Constitution Committee from 1929 to 1930. She also served as  the Chairperson of the Nominations Committee and was a member of the Membership Committee from 1930 to 1931. In addition, Ruby was a member of the Initiation Committee from 1932 to 1935, and she was part of the Legislation Committee from 1936-1938. She also devoted much of her energy to the Retirement Fund for Teachers.

Sadly, this chalkboard champion suffered a heart attack and passed away on November 20, 1940.

To read more about Ruby Cole, click on this link: DKG Founders.

Kathryn Locke-Jones named Maryland’s 2024-2025 State Teacher of the Year

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English/Language Arts teacher Kathryn Locke-Jones has been named the Maryland State teacher of the Year for 2024-2025. (Photo credit: Kathryn Locke-Jones)

There are many dedicated educators working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of accolades. One of them is Kathryn Locke-Jones, a junior high school teacher who has been named Maryland’s State Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025.

Kathryn, who is often called Kat, teaches English/Language Arts to seventh graders at Hampstead Hill Academy in Baltimore, Maryland. In the years she has taught there, she initiated the school’s National History Day program and launched a writing center to support multi-lingual learners. And her efforts have garnered remarkable results. Her students have earned the highest seventh grade score on state assessments for five years in a row. Kat has taught in Baltimore City Public Schools for 12 years.

Kat says she is passionate about creating safe spaces for her students and helping them find their voice so they can tell their stories. She believes that a teacher’s greatest honor is to hand students a pen.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Kat co-founded SL24, a nonprofit foundation to educate, assist, and support students with their mental health. Her work has created a positive impact on more than 90,000 educators. Since 2019, SL24 has raised more than $4 million for mental health education and created Sean’s House, a  free 24/7 mental health safe haven for young adults between the ages 14 and 24. Since its opening in 2020, more than 32,000 people have been served by Sean’s House.

Garnering the State Teacher of the Year award is not the only honor Kat has earned. In 2019 she was named a 2019 Kennedy Leadership Award Winner for Excellence in Teaching, in recognition of having a profound impact with students and communities.

Kat earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of Delaware in 2013. She earned her Master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University in 2015.

Richard Fujiwara: PE teacher and decorated US Army veteran

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Elementary school teacher Richard Fujiwara was also a decorated US Army veteran. (Photo credit: Daily Bulletin)

Many educators who have served in America’s public schools have also served our nation in the Armed Services. One of these is Richard Fujiwara, an elementary teacher who served in the US Army during the VietNam War.

Richard was born in Upland, California, on Dec. 5, 1946. As a youngster he was raised in Chino, where he attended Chino High School. He graduated from the school in 1964. After his graduation, Richard served in VietNam, where he showed exceptional valor, earning a Purple Heart, a Green Medal, and a Bronze Star.

Once he returned to California, Richard attended Cal Poly Pomona, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and his teaching credential. Once he earned his degrees, Richard accepted a position as an elementary physical education teacher at Citrus Elementary in the Upland Unified School District. Later he taught fourth grade at Baldy View Elementary School and at Pepper Tree Elementary. His final assignment before retirement was as an itinerant Physical education teacher at the elementary level.

In his retirement, Richard volunteered countless hours at the USO and travelled, and played golf and tennis. Richard passed away on Nov. 6, 2025. He is interred at Riverside National Cemetery .