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.

Educator Della Watson earns recognition from Humanities Texas

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High school English teacher Della Watson (at right) has earned a coveted Outstanding Teacher Award from Humanities Texas. Photo Credit: Humanities Texas

It is always a pleasure to share stories about exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Della Watson, an English teacher and music educator from Paducah, Texas. She has earned a coveted 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award from Humanities Texas.

Della teaches English, Reading, and Band at Paducah High School since 2018. She has also taught music education and choir at the junior high school level. In all, her career has spanned 15 years.

The honored educator is obviously views teaching as her calling. “I believe that learning should be engaging and fun for students so that they look forward to coming to class,” asserts Della. “I do my best to ensure that all of my students have many opportunities to succeed. Students very rarely fail my class, as I believe that if they fail, I have failed at doing my job, which is to teach all of my students,” she continues.

Clearly, Della has earned the respect of her colleagues. “[Ms. Watson] goes above and beyond what is expected because she deeply cares about her students and their learning, especially in the area of the humanities,” says Gary Whitman, Superintendent of Paducah Independent School District. “She connects with her students and causes them to enjoy learning as she makes it fun and exciting,” Whitman continues.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Della volunteers at Mel Mel’s Boutique. The boutique, a local business created in memory of a former Paducah student, earns funds to pay for scholarships for seniors from Paducah High School and nearby communities.

Della earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1990 and her Master’s degree in Education, English, and English as a Second Language, both from West Texas A&M University.

As part of her honors from Humanities Texas, Della received a $5,000 bonus, with an additional $1,000 going to her school to support further excellence in the instruction of the humanities.

 

Exceptional music educators lead students in 2022 Macy’s Parade

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Once again, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year has wowed spectators, both in person and on television, including me! After watching the talented high school musicians who performed in the annual spectacular, I am always left in awe of the superlative music educators who prepared their students for this event. Here is a little about each of these educators.

 

The Carmel Marching Greyhounds, Director Chris Kreke

Director of Bands Chris Kreke led the Carmel Marching Greyhounds in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: Jacob Musselman

The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds from Carmel, Indiana, made their second appearance in the parade, this one under the direction of Director Chris Kreke. Chris earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ball State University in 1995 and his Master’s degree in Music Technology from Indiana University in 2000.

The Marching Greyhounds garnered the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Champion Award five times, and was a Grand National Finalist a whopping 24 times. They were named the BOA Super Regional Champion six times and the BOA Regional Champion 17 times. At the state level, the Marching Greyhounds are five-time ISSMA State Champions and have made State Finals for 30 years. The 300-member group made their previous appearance in the Macy’s Parade in 2011, and they also performed in the Rose Parade in 2014 and the London New Year’s Parade in 2004.

The Bourbon County High School Marching Colonels, Director Michael Stone

The Bourbon County Marching Colonels under the direction of  Michael Stone appeared in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: Bourbon County High School

The 100-member Bourbon County High School Marching Colonels marched in the parade under the leadership of Director of Bands Michael Stone. This was the first Macy’s Parade appearance for the group, who hail from Paris, Kentucky. Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2014 and his Master’s degree in Music Education in 2017, both from Eastern Kentucky University. In 2020, Michael was named the Phi Beta Mu Young Bandmaster of the Year in Kentucky.

Under Michael’s leadership, the Marching Band won the 2018 KMEA Class AAA State Championship and the 2018 and 2019 Bands of America Class A National Championship in his first year as Director. What an accomplishment!

Vandergrift High School Viper Marching Band, Director Katie VanDoren

Also appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the Vandergrift High School Viper Marching Band from Leander, Texas, under the direction of Katie VanDoren. Photo credit: Four Points News

Director of Bands Katie VanDoren led the 300-member Vandergrift High School Viper Marching Band from Leander, Texas, in the parade. Katie has been teaching at Vandegrift since 2014. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She is currently in her sixth year at Vandegrift High School and her seventh year of teaching high school band.

Their selection for the Macy’s Parade is just the most recent honor the Vandergrift Vipers have earned. The group garnered first place in the 2022 UIL State Marching Band Contest held in San Antonio. They also won the Bands of America Grand National Championships in 2019. The group also captured the Sudler Shield International Marching Band Award and won the Bands of America Regional Championships four times.

Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble, Director Kevin Ford

Appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble under the leadership of Director Kevin Ford. Photo Credit: Pinellas County Schools

Hailing from Tarpon Springs, Florida, the Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble under the leadership of Director Kevin Ford also appeared in the parade. Kevin is presently in his 28th year of teaching in the public school system. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Florida. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Pinellas County Music Educators Association, and he serves as a member of the Bands of America (BOA) Educational Advisory Board.

The 200-member Tarpon Springs group is making its second appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in under 10 years. The ensemble was featured in the 2013 parade. In addition to their selection in the Macy’s event, they were named the BOA Grand National Champions in 2014. The group was crowned BOA Division AA and AAA Class National Champions seven times.

Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Band and Color Guard, Director David Lesser

The Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Band and Color Guard under the leadership of Director of Bands David Lessing also appeared in the 2022 Macy’s Parade. Photo credit: YourCentralValley.com

And finally, Director of Bands David Lessing appeared with the Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Band and Color Guard from Fresno, California. David was honored in 2020 by the John Philip Sousa Foundation as a Legion of Honor Laureate. In 2006, he was recognized as one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” by School Band and Orchestra (SBO) Magazine. In addition, he was the Fresno Madera County’s Music Educator Association Jazz Educator of the Year in 2005. This is David’s 22nd year of teaching.

The group has been named Western Band Association’s (WBA) Class or Grand Champions five times since 2010. This year’s appearance is the first time the 100-member Bronco group participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Felmon Motley: Teacher, Civil Rights activist, and stellar athlete

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Educator, veteran, Civil rights activist, and stellar athlete Felmon Motley.  Photo Credit: Find a Grave

Many excellent educators are also known for their careers as stellar athletes. One of these was Felmon Motley, a successful football player who was inducted into the Delaware Hall of Fame. He was also a veteran and an activist during the Civil Rights Movement.

Felmon was born on March 18, 1921, in Autaugaville, Alabama. He was raised in Anniston, where he attended Cobb High School. However, in his senior year, he moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he graduated from from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in 1940.

After his graduation in 1940, Felmon enrolled in Alabama A&M University, where he played for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs as both a lineman and a fullback. In 1942, Felmon transferred to Delaware State College, where he played for the school’s Hornets.

During World War II, Felmon served his country from 1943 to 1945, playing on a military service team at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. While on this team, he played in the 1945 Copper Bowl, scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game.

In 1946, Felmon returned to Delaware, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1947. He earned a Master’s degree from there in 1952. After earning his degrees, Felmon accepted a position as an industrial arts teacher at Seaford High. There he became the school’s first African American staff member. In all, his career as a teacher and guidance counselor spanned 37 years in public schools in Seaford, Dover, and Wilmington. He retired in 1984.

During the 1960’s, the former football player became an activist in the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King and the Rev. Jesse Jackson in Selma, Montgomery, and the 1963 March on Washington.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Felmon served was the President of the Delaware State Alumni Association from 1963 to 1967. He was a life member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, serving the organization at the national, district and local levels. He was also a 32nd degree Mason.

Football player Felmon Motley was inducted into the Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. Photo Credit: Public Domain

For his lifelong achievements, Felmon was one of the first inductees into Delaware State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also inducted into the State of Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and was one of the first inductees the Delaware State University Alumni Hall of Fame.

This Chalkboard Champion, veteran, Civil rights activist, and stellar athlete passed away on Aug. 28, 2004, in Milford, Delaware. He was 83 years old. He is interred in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear, Delaware.

Teacher Angela Duckworth studies “grit”

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Angela Duckworth, former high school math teacher and current CEO of Character Lab, developed the concept of “grit” as an indicator of student success. Photo credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

There are many examples of individuals successful in the world of business who leave lucrative positions to teach in America’s high schools. One of these is Angela Duckworth, a psychologist, social scientist, author, CEO of a nonprofit,  who also taught mathematics in a San Francisco public school.

Angela was born in 1970, the daughter of immigrants from China. Her father was a chemist with the DuPont Chemicals Company. Angela was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Cherry Hill High School East. After her graduation from high school, Angela attended Harvard University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology in 1992. She earned her Master’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford in 1996. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. In 2013, Angela garnered a MacArthur Fellowship.

Originally, Angela accepted a position as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, but she left that job after about one year in order to accept a teaching post at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Lowell is the only public high school in San Francisco that admits students on the basis of academic merit. The school is the largest feeder to the University of California system, and many of the school’s graduates go on to enroll in the country’s most selective universities. She also taught at schools in Philadelphia and New York City. In all, her career as an educator spanned five years.

Angela left the classroom to become the founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit organization that studies the importance of what she called “grit”—the quality that contributes to an individual’s success in life. Angela defines “grit” as passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals. As a result of the studies, Angela published a best-selling book entitled Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance in May, 2016. In fact, she is credited with introducing the concept of “grit” to the conversation of education policy.

Today, Angela continues to run Character Lab, and she also instructs courses in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.