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.

NM teacher Silvia Miranda earns prestigious PAEMST Award

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New Mexico educator Silvia Miranda has garnered a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo Credit: PAEMST

Congratulations to New Mexico educator Silvia Miranda, who has garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This prestigious award honors the dedication, hard work, and important role that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers.

Silvia currently works with kindergarteners through second graders at Mesa Elementary School and James Bickley Elementary School in Clovis, New Mexico. In her classroom, Silvia sets high standards for herself and her students. In her curriculum, she emphasizes whole brain strategies, a growth mindset philosophy, interest-based learning, and data-driven instruction.

During the pandemic, when her students were told they could not use the school playground for safety reasons, Silvia designed a lesson that asked her students to plan a playground that would allow for social distancing, using their newly-acquired multiplication and division skills to compute areas and to stay within a budget. In another lesson, she established a weather station and led her students in discovery learning about the links between water and weather and life. As part of that lesson, her students became “weather pals” with students in Africa, where they talked about wells and water issues.

In addition to her work in her school, Silvia is a Khan Academy Ambassador and a Statistics in our Schools Ambassador. She has served as a Clovis Municipal Schools Teacher Leader since 2018, was a state ambassador for the NM Teacher Leader Network for two years, and served on the state Secretary’s Teacher Advisory.

For her work as an educator, Silvia has earned many accolades. She is a 2020 NSTA Teacher Awards finalist, a 2018 Milken Educator Award recipient, was Clovis Teacher of the Year in 2018, and was a NM Teacher of the Year finalist. She has been awarded many grants for STEM education.

Silvia earned her Bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Elementary Education from Eastern New Mexico University. She earned her Master’s degree, summa cum laude, in Education Literacy from Wayland Baptist University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher for early and middle childhood literacy, and she is certified in kindergarten through eighth grade elementary education with an endorsement in bilingual education.

Retired music educator and Idaho politician Jerry Shively

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Retired music educator Jerry Shively also served his community as an elected member of the Idaho State House of Representatives. Pictured here with his wife, Ann. Photo Credit: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Idaho Falls

Many fine classroom teachers have also served their community in public office. One of these was Jerry Shively, a high school music teacher who also served a two-year term in the Idaho House State of Representatives.

Jerry earned both his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Idaho. Once he earned his degrees, Jerry taught music at first Idaho Falls High School and then Skyline High School. Later he accepted a position as the music coordinator of the Idaho Falls School System #91. After he retired from teaching, Jerry worked as a member of the staff of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls.

In 2007, Jerry was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Idaho’s 33rd District in the Idaho State House of Representatives. He served there from 2008 to 2010.

In addition to his political work, Jerry was involved in numerous community organizations. He served as the President of the Idaho Music Educators Association from 1990 to 1992. He served as the President of both the Idaho Falls Arts Council and the Idaho Falls Rotary. He was also a Board member of the Idaho Falls Opera Theatre, The Idaho Falls Symphony, and Idaho Falls Community Concerts. Furthermore, he served as the Idaho Representative of the Arts Northwest Board.

Ellen Tronnier, Wisconsin PE teacher, once played in All-American Girls Baseball League

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Wisconsin physical education teacher Ellen Tronnier played as an outfielder in the All-American girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Photo Credit: AAGPBL

Many excellent teachers have also earned fame as talented athletes. One of these was Ellen Tronnier, a Wisconsin physical education teacher who once played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Those who are familiar with the 1992 movie A League of their Own starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna know very well about this unique group of women athletes.

Ellen, who was an outfielder, was 5’6″, 135 pounds. She batted and threw right-handed. After making it through two grueling try-outs, she earned a position in the league playing on a team called the South Bend Blue Sox. Having been born in Cudahy, Wisconsin, on June 28, 1927, she was only 15 years old at the time.

After only one season on the team, Ellen decided to pursue her education. She left the league and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. After she completed her degree there, she taught physical education in the Milwaukee Public School District. She taught at both South Division High School and Sholes Middle School. Her career as a teacher spanned a total of 33 years. During these years, which included the 1970s, Ellen opened a baseball school for girls sponsored by the Milwaukee Recreation Department.

While she was still teaching, Ellen, played club softball for 27 years, competing in numerous tournaments. She was an accomplished fast pitch softball player, and the teams she played on won several league, state, and regional championships. In 1956, her club won three National Invitational Tournaments.

When the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cooperstown, New York, an entire section of exhibits was dedicated to the All-Girls League. Ellen was recognized as one of the 560 women who had, at one time or another, played in the league. In 1990, Ellen was inducted into the Wisconsin Softball Association Hall of Fame. Even throughout her retirement, the former teacher remained active, encouraging young women to engage in competitive sports while she signed baseball cards and reminisced about the days when she payed baseball.

Sadly, Ellen Tronnier passed away on May 21, 2015, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was 87 years old. She was interred at Arlington Park Cemetery in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

 

Former Special Ed teacher Margaret Carpenter served in NC House of Reps

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Former Special Education teacher Margaret Carpenter once served in the North Carolina State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Public Domain

Many fine educators have also served their communities in political office. One of these is Margaret Carpenter, a Special Education teacher in North Carolina who has served in her state’s House of Representatives.

Margaret was born on Aug. 3, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan. Since childhood, she has preferred to be called “Marge.” As a youngster, she attended Lamphere high School in Madison Heights, Michigan, where she graduated in 1968. After her high school graduation, Margaret earned her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from the University of Alabama in 1975. She earned her Master’s degree in Education at the University of Southern Alabama (USA) in 1989. She also completed graduate courses at USA.

After she completed her education, Margaret accepted a position as a Special Education teacher. For her work in the classroom, she was recognized in the publication Who’s Who in Education in 1996-1997.

In 2000, Margaret was elected on the Republican ticket to the North Carolina State House of Representatives. There she represented the 52nd District for one term, from 2001 to 2003. Her District included the counties of Graham, Haywood, part of Jackson, Madison, and Swain. During her years of service, Margaret was a member of the Committees on Education; Mental Health; the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; and the Education Subcommittee on Community Colleges.

Today, Margaret, now age 72, lives in Waynesville, North Carolina. To read more about her, see this entry published in the North Carolina Manual.

 

Maryland teacher Mary Carter Smith earned fame as a griot

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Maryland public school teacher Mary Carter Smith earned accolades as a radio personality, folklorist, and griot. Photo Credit: National Association of Black Storytellers

Many talented educators are also known for their artistic pursuits. One of these was Mary Carter Smith, a public school teacher in Maryland who earned fame as a radio personality, folklorist, and griot—a storyteller in African oral tradition. She has earned a reputation nationwide for reviving and promoting storytelling as an art form, as a teaching method, and as a form of communication.

Mary was committed to the power of storytelling in assisting understanding between people and in improving race relations. “Misunderstanding abounds. It has no special resting place. Rich and poor, majority and minority, young and old, Black and White – all feel the sting of being misunderstood,” she asserted. “And there are many people, using many ways, trying to lead us to a better understanding of each other. I am among those who fight misunderstanding,” she continued. “The weapons I use are stories, drama, songs, poetry, and laughter. I bring entertainment with a purpose,” she concluded.

Mary was born in Feb. 10, 1919, in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Coppin State University in 1942. In 1943, she accepted a position in the Baltimore City Public School system, where she taught for 31 years. In addition to her work in the classroom, Mary hosted a Saturday morning radio program entitled Griot for the Young and the Young at Heart.

As if this were not enough, Mary was a co-founder of the Arena Players Theatre Company and the Griots’ Circle of Maryland. In 1982, she co-founded the National Association of Black Storytellers. She was also instrumental in the founding of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in her city.

For her work as an educator and folklorist, Mary earned many accolades. In 1998, she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1996, she earned the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Circle of Excellence Award, both from the National Storytelling Association. Also, Mary was named the official Griot of Baltimore City, and in 1991, she was named the official Griot of the state of Maryland. In 1985, Mary garnered the Zora Neale Hurston Award. In 1982, she co-founded the National Association of Black Storytellers. She was also instrumental in the founding of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in her city. But the most amazing of all, I think, is that her image has been featured in the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum located in Baltimore!

Sadly, Mary Carter Smith passed away on April 24, 2007. To read more about her, see this article published by the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.