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.

Teacher Annie Tietze served five terms in Kansas State House of Reps

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Former Social Studies teacher Annie Tietze served five terms in the Kansas State House of Representatives. Photo credit: legislators.gov

Many excellent educators have also served their community in public office. Annie Tietze, a Social Studies teacher from Kansas, is one of these. She served five terms of office in her state’s House of Representatives.

Annie was born on Oct. 7, 1950, in Topeka, Kansas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Emporia State University in 1972. She earned a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas in 1986.

After she earned her degrees, Annie taught Social Studies, speech, debate, and English in Topeka. Her career spanned from 1974 to 2006, a total of 32 years. She also worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Annie was elected to the Kansas State House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. There she represented the 56th District from 2007 to 2013. She represented the 53rd District from 2013 to 2016. In the Kansas House, Annie was a member of three Committees: Corrections & Community Justice; Commerce, Labor, & Economic Development; and Judiciary.

For her work as a legislator, Annie has earned some impressive recognition. She was named Legislator of the Year by the National Alliance of Mental Illness in 2010. She was also honored as the Spiral of Influence by the Kansas City Organization of Women Enterprises.

Today, at age 72, Annie is retired from teaching. But she has not left the profession entirely. She serves as the local president of the Kansas National Education Association.

NC teacher, legislator, and WWII veteran Aaron Fussell

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North Carolina teacher, legislator, and World War II veteran Aaron Fussell earned the Bronze Star for his war-time service. Photo credit: Find a Grave

Many fine educators have also served our country in the military. Many more have served their community in public office. Aaron Fussell, a teacher from North Carolina, has done both.

Aaron was born on July 5, 1923, in Rose Hill, North Carolina. In 1940, he graduated from Rose Hill High School. The following summer, he worked for his uncle in Laurinburg, where he did the bookkeeping and handled the payroll. Next, Aaron earned his Bachelor’s degree from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson. He earned his Master’s degree in Education from the University of North Carolina. He also completed post-graduate courses at North Carolina State University and Duke University. While in college, Aaron played basketball, baseball, and tennis, a game at which he especially excelled.

During World War II, Aaron served his country as a corporal in the US Army. He was among the troops that comprised the 203rd Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, when they landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy in June, 1944. Later, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. In fact, Aaron earned a Bronze Star for fighting in 318 continuous days of combat.

Once the war was over, Aaron became a teacher and coach at Elm City High School in 1946. He worked his way up the ranks, first as an Assistant Principal at Whiteville High School, then as the Principal of Millbrook High School in 1953, and finally as the Superintendent of Wake County Schools in 1957. He held that position until 1976, during which time he ensured the integration of the school district. In all, Aaron’s career as an educator spanned 31 years.

In addition to his work as an educator, Aaron was elected on the Democratic ticket to the North Carolina House of Representatives. He served in that body from 1978 to 1994, a total of 16 years. In this position, he supported many bills for improved education, including a state Basic Education Plan and a statewide curriculum which was adopted in the 1980s. In addition, the former teacher supported a mandatory seatbelt law and statewide watershed protection.

Teacher, politician, and veteran Aaron Fussell passed away on July 7, 2014, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 91 years old.

Theresa Maughan named NJ’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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High school Social Studies teacher Theresa Maughan has been named New Jersey’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.. Photo credit: New Jersey Education Association

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work. One of these is Theresa Maughan, a high school Social Studies teacher in East Orange, New Jersey. She has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Theresa teaches at East Orange STEM Academy in East Orange, New Jersey. In a career that has spanned 40 years, she has spent the last 34 of them at East Orange. “I love everything about my job,” expresses Theresa. “Every day is fresh and different, and I really enjoy giving my students an opportunity to become the best version of themselves,” she says.

The honored educator immigrated from Belize when she was only five years old. When her family was threatened with deportation, her social studies teacher dedication herself to helping her family stay in their adopted country. “My father had an issue with his visa that threatened our immediate family’s status in the US,” recalls Theresa. “My teacher, Mrs. Roman, launched a letter-writing campaign and arranged for coverage in the Jersey Journal about our situation. The school community rallied around us and we were able to go through the naturalization process, eventually becoming American citizens,” she continues. This effort, says Theresa, is what led her to recognize the immense impact educators have on their students’ lives and inspired her to pursue a career in education.

When she grew up, Theresa earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Education from Rutgers University. She earned her Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from New Jersey City University. She is also working on her second Master’s degree, in American History, from Pace University.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Theresa writes curriculum, and she has developed and presented interdisciplinary professional development workshops for her school district. She has mentored new teachers and pre-service teachers. Furthermore, she has attended the New Jersey Amistad Commission’s Summer Teacher Institute for more than a decade, and she serves as an Amistad Scholar.

Besides her honors as New Jersey’s Teacher of the Year, Theresa has been named 2021 Essex County Teacher of the Year, and she was a nominee for the National History Day Patricia Behring Award the same year.

To read more about Theresa Maughan, see this article published by the New Jersey Education Association.

Former teacher, administrator Susan Rainey made significant contributions to her community

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Former teacher and administrator Susan Rainey made significant contributions to the Southern California educational community. Photo Credit: Inland Empire Daily Bulletin

There are many amazing educators who have made significant contributions to their community schools. One of these is Susan Rainey, a distinguished leader throughout the educational community of Southern California.

Susan was born in Denver, Colorado, on Nov. 25, 1946. She grew up in Temple City, a suburb of Los Angeles, California. After earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University to Redlands in California’s Inland Empire, she completed the requirements for her PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Southern California. In addition, in 2004, California Baptist University conferred upon Susan an honorary doctorate.

Susan’s work as an educator led her to schools all over Southern California. Her early teaching assignments were in Redlands Unified Schools and Palo Alto Unified Schools. She also taught at Yucaipa High School in San Bernardino County. And she completed stints as Assistant Principal at Monrovia High School and Principal of Brea Olinda High School. Next, she served as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and then as Deputy Superintendent at Hemet Unified Schools. Susan also spent seven years as the Superintendent of Charter Oak Unified Schools in Covina. The last ten years of her career were spent as Superintendent of Schools in the Riverside Unified School District.

After her retirement, Sue served two terms as an elected trustee at the Riverside County Office of Education, where she filled the position of Chairperson. She also served as the President of United Way of the Inland Valley, the Chairperson of the Riverside Public Library Foundation, and a member of the Riverside Philharmonic.

For her work as an educator, Sue earned many accolades. She was named Superintendent of the Year by Region XII of the Association of California School Administrators. Twice she garnered the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, in 1996 and in 2012. She also earned the Robert F. Alioto Instructional Leadership Award by the California School Leadership Academy. For her support of youth athletic programs, Susan garnered the Chuck Kane Leadership Award and was named a member of the Riverside Sports Hall of Fame.

Sadly, this indefatigable educator passed away on Sept. 25, 2022. She was 75 years old.