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.

Bill Grannell: Teacher, union organizer, and former member Oregon House of Reps

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There are many fine examples of hardworking educators who have served their communities in elected office. One of them is William “Bill” Grannell, a former history teacher who also served as a member of the Oregon State House of Representatives.

Bill was born on Jan. 6, 1938, in Denver, Colorado. After earning his degree at the University of Denver, Bill moved to Coos Bay, Oregon. He bought a boat and became a salmon fisherman. Later he taught history at North Bend Junior High School in North Bend. He also worked for a time as a union organizer for the National Education Organization.

In 1972, Bill was elected on the Democratic ticket to a seat on the Oregon State House of Representatives. There he represented the 4th District from 1973 to 1983. While in the Oregon House of Reps, he supported the right of public employees to bargain collectively. He also advocated for legislation that increased funding for schools and allowed for the production of natural resources, including timber, fishing, and mining resources. For part of his years of service he served as the Chairman of the Revenue Committee, even though he had previously he opposed a movement to impose a state sales tax. During the years Bill served in the Oregon House, he also published a weekly newspaper he called the Bay Reporter.

After Bill retired from his position in the Oregon House, he worked as a lobbyist with the Association of County Governments. Currently, at age 84, he lives in Oregon.

NJ teacher, counselor, and politician Priscilla B. Anderson

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New Jersey history teacher and guidance counselor Priscilla B. Anderson also served in the New Jersey State General Assembly. Photo Credit: ourcampaigns.com

Many excellent educators have also earned success as politicians. One of these is Priscilla B. Anderson, a public school teacher and guidance counselor from New Jersey who once served as an elected member of her state’s General Assembly.

Priscilla was born on Sept. 14, 1935, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, she worked as first a history teacher and then a guidance counselor in public schools in Trenton, New Jersey. Priscilla was known to have a special interesting young people and their contributions to the community. In fact, to recognize their service, she established the Willingboro Youth Achievement Awards to honor them.

Priscilla inaugurated her career as a politician in 1981 when she was elected to serve on the Willingboro Township Council in Burlington County, New Jersey. Subsequently she was elected mayor of the Township in 1984 and again in 1991. At that time she was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 7th Legislative District, where she served from 1992 to 1994. Priscilla was the first African American to be elected to the New Jersey State Legislature from Burlington County.

Once her term in the Assembly was completed, Priscilla served as a Commissioner on the Burlington County Bridge Commission. During her tenure, the Commission collected nearly $30 million annually in bridge tolls, oversaw a $41 million capital budget, and handled the county’s economic-development projects.

The retired history teacher and guidance counselor also published a book of local history entitled The History and Contributions of Black Americans to the Development of Willingboro. The volume has become an important resource for historians and sociologists studying her town’s history.

Today, Priscilla B. Anderson is 87 years old, and she resides in Philadelphia.

 

Science teacher Ann Mah served in the Kansas House of Reps

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High school science teacher Ann Mah also served in the Kansas State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: The Topeka Capital-Journal

Many fine classroom teachers have also achieved success as politicians. One of these is Ann Mah, a high school science teacher who has also served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Ann was born May 5, 1951, in Clay Center, Kansas. Her father worked as a machinist and her mother worked as a public school teacher. Ann earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree in Education from Emporia State University. Once she completed her education, she worked as a science teacher in public schools in Emporia, Kansas. Her career as an educator spanned five years.

In 2004, Ann inaugurated her career in politics when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Kansas House of Representatives. She served there for eight years. She represented the 53rd District from 2005 and 2013. While in office, she was a member of the Committees for Education; High Education; and Local Government. In 2016, after she left the State Assembly, Ann was elected to the Kansas State Board of Education representing District 4. She currently occupies this position.

Ann has also worked as a small business owner. Her company, Discover Strategies, provides speaking, consulting, and training services. In addition, she has published three business training books and has been employed as the business skills writer for the magazine Hers Kansas.

Ann has also served on the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors, the State Committee of the North Central Association, and the Board of Directors of the United Way of Greater Topeka. Currently, Ann is a member of the Capitol Area Federated Women’s Democratic Club, the Shawnee County Democrats, and the American Business Women’s Association. She is president of the Lutheran Fine Arts Council of Topeka. 

For her work as an educator, lawmaker, and business owner, Ann was recognized as the 1997 National Woman of the Year by the American Business Women’s Association. She served as the Association’s national president in 2002. In that capacity, Ann traveled throughout the country speaking on business and education issues. In 2000, Ann was also recognized as a YWCA Woman of Excellence. She was honored by the Kansas Association for Career and Technical Education for her legislative work on career and tech ed. And as if all that were not enough, she was nominated as a Woman of Influence by Go Topeka in 2018.

To learn more about Ann Mah, visit her website at AnnMah.org.

NH science teacher Tristan Bowen garners prestigious PAEMST honors

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Elementary teacher Tristan Bowen of New Hampshire has garnered a prestigious Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Photo Credit: PAEMST

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Tristan Bowen, an elementary school science teacher from New Hampshire who has garnered a 2022 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. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

Tristan has been teaching for 22 years. For the past 15 years, she has taught a self-contained fourth grade class at Riddle Brook School in Bedford, New Hampshire. Previously, she taught for five years at Russell Street Elementary School, and prior to that, she inaugurated her career at Nantucket Middle School, where she taught for two years.

“What sets Tristan apart is her forward-thinking and student engagement abilities, especially in the area of STEM education,” asserts Molly McCarthy, Principal of Riddle Brook School. “She encourages creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving through interest-based learning for her students,” agreed Mike Fournier, Superintendent of the Bedford School District.

This amazing teacher has a passion for writing student-driven science curriculum and is trained in NGSX science curriculum implementation. She mentors teachers on the implementation of NGSX principles, and she aligns and writes Bedford’s science curriculum with NGSX and NGSS standards. To facilitate maximum learning opportunities, Tristan has orchestrated lessons for her students that allow them to connect with scientists both in the community and worldwide.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Tristan serves as a Professional Learning Community Facilitator for her fourth grade team. She is also a member of her school’s Enrichment Committee, which worked hard to initiate the Full STEAM Ahead Day at her school. She is a member of New Hampshire Science Teachers Association and NSTA. Also, she has established a working relationship with University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is a trained STEM docent, and has written a Citizen Science integration curriculum. As if all that were not enough, Tristan has written Wisdom Work Curriculum and has shared the innovative lessons at Southeastern Regional Education Service Center. The lessons were so exceptional that she presented Wisdom Work at the Christa McAuliffe Conference for New Hampshire Society for Technology in Education and at Bedford’s Future Ready Conference.

Tristan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1990, and her Master’s degree from Boston College in 1994. She is certified to teach kindergarten through sixth grade and Moderate Special Needs, kindergarten through ninth grade.

To learn more about Tristan Bowen, see this link to the New Hampshire Department of Education.

Happy Labor Day!

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Labor Day celebrates the workers who have made America the country it is today. And all throughout the country, our public schools are full of some of the hardest-working people I have ever met. Teachers, administrators, support staff, custodians, counselors, teachers’ aids—they all work some of the longest hours of any professionals around. They invest countless hours in our kids, including long days, weekends, even summer and winter vacations. Most educators are driven by one driving mission: Making sure students get access to the education and life skills they need to succeed. Happy Labor Day, Teachers!