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.

Dr. Erick Hueck inducted into 20223 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame

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Florida science teacher Dr. Erick Hueck has just been inducted into the 2023 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Photo credit: NTHF

I enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Dr. Erick Hueck, a science teacher from Miami, Florida. Erick is one of five educators nationwide who have been inducted into the 2023 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF).

Erick’s career as an educator spans 34 years. Currently, he teaches Chemistry and Advanced Placement Chemistry to freshmen through seniors at Miami Senior High School in Miami. In previous years, he  taught Biology, Earth Space, Physical Science, and General Science there. In addition, for 32 years the honored teacher has served as the advisor for his school’s chapter of the National Beta Honor Society. In addition to his work in the classroom, Erick serves as the President of the Dade County Science Teachers’ Association.

As a result of years of professional experience, Erick can offer some sage advice for his colleagues. ​“You must have passion at the core of your intent,” he asserts, “understand that there will be good days and bad days, continue to learn and evolve; take care of yourself and listen to the voice inside your head, you are only as good as you feel.”

Erick’s induction in the NTHF is not the only recognition he has earned. In 2013 he was named the Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Florida Association of Science Teachers. The next year, he garnered the Phebe and Zephaniah Swift More Teaching Award from Amherst College. In 2022, Erick was named the NEA California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, and that same year he earned the Yale Educator Award.

A 1983 graduate of Columbine High School in Colorado, Erick continued his education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry in 1987. He earned his Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Miami in 1990, and his PHD in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2009.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame was founded in 1989 in Emporia, Kansas, to honor outstanding educators through a recognition program and museum. Nominees must be certificated public or non-public school teachers, active or retired, with at least 20 years of experience in teaching grades preK-12. Since the inaugural induction ceremonies in 1992, 145 educators from 40 states and the District of Columbia have been inducted. To learn more about the program, click on this link to the NTHF.

 

AZ teacher Nancy Gutierrez serves in her state’s House of Reps

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High school teacher Nancy Gutierrez represents her community in Tucson, Arizona, in her state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Nancy Gutierrez

Many accomplished classroom teachers also serve their communities in political office. One of these is Nancy Gutierrez, a high school teacher from Arizona who has been elected to her state’s House of Representatives.

Nancy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Northern Arizona University in 1994. Once she earned her degree, she inaugurated her career as a teacher in Paradise Valley and Sierra Vista. She has taught at all grade levels, including preschool, elementary, high school, and community college. In 2013, she landed at Tucson High Magnet School. Nancy earned her 500-hour yoga certificate, and for the past five years she has been teaching yoga classes at the school, where she also serves as the Chair of the Physical Education Department. In addition, she is a member of the school’s Safety Committee.

Nancy is no stranger to leadership positions. In 2010, she was elected President of the Manzanita Elementary School Family Faculty Organization.  In 2017, she served on the Board of the Tucson chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), and in 2018, she was elected president of the group. She is a member of the Tucson Education Association and the Arizona Education Association. She also has experience as a Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross.

In 2022, Nancy was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 18 in the Arizona House of Representatives. She was sworn into office on Jan. 9, 2023. Her  term will expire on Jan. 13, 2025. There she serves on the Committees for Education; Appropriations; Regulatory Affairs; Government; and Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.

“My passion is education,” declares Nancy. She has made it her mission to increase spending for education in her state. “Arizona is notorious for spending the least amount possible on public education,” she notes. “In turn, we spend among the least amount per pupil, have one of the lowest median teacher salary structures in the country and we have schools that are literally crumbling.” Nancy is advocating exhaustively for allocating funding to make sorely needed repairs on classrooms, improve security measures on every campus, ensure that every classroom has working air conditioning, replace out-of-date textbooks, and increase teacher salaries.

Learn more about Nancy Gutierrez click here to check out her legislative website.

Nebraska Special Education teacher Lisa Moody garners Milken Award

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Special Education teacher Lisa Moody from Omaha, Nebraska, has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Norfolk Daily News

There are many exceptional teachers working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Lisa Moody, an elementary school Special Education teacher from Omaha, Nebraska. She has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award.

Lisa teaches K-6 Special Education at Jefferson Elementary in Omaha. She works tirelessly to build innovative supports for her students. For example, she developed and instituted a hybrid inclusive education program when her school faced a shortage of special education teachers. The program mainstreams students enrolled in Lisa’s Alternate Curriculum Program into general education classrooms. There the students learn social skills in the classroom while still working with Lisa on academic subjects and life skills. The program has now expanded to several schools in her district. Jefferson school Principal Jennifer Schlapia noted that she has seen “amazing results” from the program and that the students involved in the program have met significant goals.

In addition to her work with students, Lisa conducts professional development at her school site. At the district level, she is an intensive teacher mentor, and she is a member of a committee that promotes equity in special education practices.

Lisa earned her Bachelor’s in Speech and Language Pathology Education in 2009 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education in 2011 from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, and a second Master’s in Education with Certification in Early Childhood and English as a Second Language in 2022 from Creighton University.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more about this honor, click on Milken Educator Awards.

 

GA teacher Ruth Frances Woodsmall was a global activist for women’s rights

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High School English teacher Ruth Frances Woodsmall of Georgia was a global activist for women’s rights in her day. Photo credit: Smith College

Many exceptional educators have also made significant contributions to society as a whole. One of these is Ruth Frances Woodsmall, a high school English teacher from Georgia. She is well-known as a post-World War II global activist for women’s rights.

Ruth was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sept. 20, 1883. She was the daughter of Harrison S. Woodsmall, a lawyer and teacher, and Mary Elizabeth Howes, an art teacher. Ruth grew up in Indiana and attended local schools. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska in 1905. She earned her Master’s degree from Wellesley in 1906.

After she earned her degrees, Ruth worked as a high school English teacher in both Nevada and Colorado from 1906 to 1917. Between 1917 and 1928 she held various positions in the YWCA, including a stint as Director of Hostess Houses in the US and in France. From 1921 to 1928, she was Executive Secretary of YWCAs in the Near East. Based in Istanbul, the former classroom teacher supervised branches in Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. In 1923, her jurisdiction was expanded to include Egypt and Palestine. From 1935 to 1948 Ruth served as General Secretary of the World’s YWCA.

From 1949 to 1952 Ruth served as the Chief of the Women’s Affairs Section of the US High Commission for Occupied Germany. For this work she received the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of West Germany. At the same, she did extensive research on the changing status of Muslim women in the Middle East and published several important works on the subject.

In recognition of her work with women and international relations, this exceptional educator received honorary degrees from the University of Nebraska in 1945 and the University of Indiana in 1954.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away in New York City on May 25, 1963.

NYC teacher Cindy Wang garners 2022-2023 Big Apple Award

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Educator Cindy Wang, who teaches English as a Second language, has earned a 2022-2023 New York City Big Apple Award. Photo credit:New York City Public Schools

I always enjoy sharing the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Cindy Wang, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher from New York City. She has earned a 2022-2023 Big Apple Award.

Cindy teaches ESL to juniors at International High School at Lafayette in Brooklyn, New York. The school offers a home to international students where they can develop their linguistic, intellectual, cultural, and collaborative abilities. As an immigrant herself, Cindy is uniquely qualified to help these students. “Growing up in an immigrant family, the struggles of learning a new language, as well as navigating a new culture, were deeply personal to me. I knew that I wanted to work with and empower immigrant students,” she once confessed.

To achieve this goal, Cindy earned a 7-12 certification in Teaching Chinese (Mandarin) as a foreign language. Shortly after, she invested her talents as the VELLOP coordinator at Vassar, providing programming and extra support for K-12 English Language Learners in the Poughkeepsie City School District. At the same time, Cindy enrolled in courses in a Master’s program in Applied Linguistcs and TESOL at Teachers College in New York City. She graduated from the program in May, 2018.

Today, Cindy works with a diverse group of English Language Learners at International High School at Lafayette in Brooklyn. In her classroom, she integrates the experiences of her students into projects designs to create an environment where students feel safe to take risks with language. As an educator, she brings culturally responsive education practices into every project that she organizes, including the use of literature.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Cindy has made numerous contributions to her school community. She is a team leader at her site. In this role, she facilitates weekly meetings where the team examines curriculum, reviews date, and plans supports for students. In addition, she serves as an advisor for the school’s student government, where she promotes the voices of students in decision-making, fosters peer tutoring and supports, advises a student newsletter, and guides a leadership development program. And as if all that were not enough, Cindy and her team also coordinate a 100-hour internship experience for every junior. Outside of the classroom, Cindy strengthens her practice through participation in an Early Career Fellowship with the Academy for Teachers.

The Big Apple Awards recognize and celebrate New York City teachers who Inspire students to be their best selves, dream, and advocate for their future; who. model equitable learning with high expectations for the diverse and dynamic needs of all students; who affirm students’ identities, unique gifts, and genius; who enrich their school communities by partnering with families, community members, and community-based organizations.