As summer begins, here is some sage advice from several educators who have been honored as their state’s Teachers of the Year. Provided by the US Department of Education.
Author Archives: Terry Lee Marzell
Brittany Brown recognized as one of five finalists for Florida’s 2022 Teacher of the Year
Brittany Brown, an elementary school teacher from Florida, has been recognized in her state as one of five finalists for the state Teacher of the Year in 2021. Photo Credit: spirit.saintleo.edu
I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who serve as role models for exemplary teaching. One of these is Brittany Brown, an elementary school teacher from Florida who has been recognized in her state as one of five finalists for the state Teacher of the Year in 2021.
Brittany teaches third and fourth grade English language arts at Wildwood Elementary School in Sumter County. Her co-workers describe her as passionate about supporting her students academically through the positive relationships she has built with each of them. In addition, she established the Reading Superstars program to recognize students who have made outstanding gains in reading. Brittany serves as the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) site member for her school, and also as their English/Language Arts representative to the District.
The honored educator says she emphasizes reading skills in her classroom instruction. “Reading is—and I tell my kids—reading is the way it’s your way out of any situation. You have to be able to read and comprehend in order to be successful,” Brittany asserts. “It’s one of those things that many kids don’t like. Unfortunately, they aren’t really exposed to reading at early ages. And so it’s just something that they have to learn to love to do,” she continues. “And so I feel like my job is to help them foster that love for reading, like make them feel like it’s just something that’s just super cool, something they need to do. But I think is really important,” she concludes.
Brittany earned her Bachelor’s degree in Family and Community Services in 2011 from the University of Florida and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2015 from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida.
This year’s five 2022 Teacher of the Year state finalists were selected from over 185,000 excellent public school teachers throughout Florida. The other four finalists were Jim Schmitt of Duval County, Sarah Ann Painter of Pinellas County, Kari Johnson of Sarasota County, and Frank Garaitonandia of Volusia County. The 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year will be officially named on July 22 in Orlando.
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Maine’s Michele “Mickie” Flores garners prestigious PAEMST award
Michele “Mickie” Flores, a middle school STEM teacher from Maine, has earned a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Photo Credit: PAEMST
Many fine STEM educators have earned recognition for their work in the teaching profession. One of these is Michele Flores of Maine, who has garnered a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Michele, who prefers to be called “Mickie,” has been a science educator since 1985. She has taught at all levels, including elementary, middle school, and high school. For the past 11 years, she has taught fifth graders through seventh graders at Deer-Isle Stonington Elementary School located in Deer Isle, Maine. Prior to that assignment, she taught chemistry at H.C. Williams High School for six years, middle level science at JM McKenney Middle School for 15 years, and five years at Immaculate Conception School. She also taught courses in science methods at the State University of New York at Potsdam.
As a teacher, Mickie has a reputation for creating a very innovative and collaborative curriculum. For example, during the 2020-2021 school year, her fifth and sixth graders monitored how birds used the bird feeder located on the school’s nature trail. They estimated cloud cover, recorded bird activity, graphed their data, and published their conclusions online. That same year, Mickie’s sixth and seventh grade students studied climate change in collaboration with students in both San Diego, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Together, they created an 80-page comic book on the subject. The students even interviewed local scientists as well as a comic book illustrator and produced graphic nonfiction comics from their interviews. The honored teacher explained that theiir goal was to have a voice in educating the public about the causes, effects, and solutions to the current climate crisis.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Mickie serves on the Teacher Advisory Group for the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. She also serves on the Hancock County Teaching Collaborative of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. As a result of the work done by the Collaborative, the Institute garnered a grant from Rethinking Remote Education Ventures to create an accessible boardwalk and outdoor classroom for Deer Isle School’s nature trail.
Mickie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Services in 1975 from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She earned her Master’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching in 1980 from Elmira College in Elmira, New York.
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NJ’s Robert Fenster inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame
New Jersey Social Studies educator Robert Fenster is one of only five 2022 inductees into the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) Photo Credit: NTHF
After a Covid-related hiatus in 2021, the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) has resumed honoring teachers for their exemplary work in the classroom. The five inductees for the class of 2022 have been announced. One of them is Robert Fenster, a high school teacher from Hillsborough, New Jersey.
Robert earned his Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science in 1991 from Rutgers University. He earned his Master’s degree in Social Studies Education in 1993, also from Rutgers. His career in education started in 1993 at Hillsborough High, where he teaches Social Studies to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Hillsborough High School in Hillsborough, New Jersey. His entire 28-year career has been spent at this school.
In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Robert serves as the advisor for his school’s Mock Trial team, Model United Nations, Model Congress, the Amnesty International Club, and the Podcasting Club. He also serves on the Township Recreation Committee. As if all this were not enough, Robert is a member of the National Education Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the National Council for History Education.
“Mr. Fenster’s teaching had such a profound impact on my life that I have mentioned it while testifying before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee,” declared his former student Nina Jankowicz. “I credit his classes and mentorship during my high school years not only with my interest in Political Science and international relations in college, which led me down the career path that took me to the halls of Congress, but also for instilling in me (and my classmates) the importance of being an active citizen,” she continued. “He is not only an excellent educator, but an empowering mentor, emboldening each student – male or female, quiet or outspoken, history buff or not – to truly shine,” Jankowicz concluded.
The honored educator’s induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame is one of numerous honors this Chalkboard Champion has earned. He garnered the 2021 Paul A. Gagnon Prize from the National Council for History Education; the 2019 Secondary Education Teacher of the Year Award from the New Jersey Council for Social Studies; the 2019 Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year Award from American Lawyers Alliance; and the 2017 Claes Nobel Top Ten Educator of the Year Award from the National Society of High School Scholars.
This honor is not the only one Robert has earned. He received the 2021 Paul A. Gagnon Prize from the National Council for History Education, the 2019 Secondary Education Teacher of the Year Award from the New Jersey Council for Social Studies, the 2019 Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year Award from American Lawyers Alliance, and the 2017 Claes Nobel Top Ten Educator of the Year Award from the National Society of High School Scholars. To read m ore about Robert Fenster, see the link to Central Jersey.com.
The National Teachers Hall of Fame was founded in Emporia in 1989 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, 140 educators from 40 states and the District of Columbia have been inducted. This year’s class of inductees represents the 30th anniversary of NTHF induction ceremonies when both the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2022 will be officially installed.
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Include the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra in your classroom curriculum
Author and retired teacher Terry Lee Marzell and her husband, Hal Marzell, experience a camel ride at the foot of Petra’s spectacular multi-story Treasury building. The structure features Hellenistic architecture, including Corinthian capitals, friezes, and figures. Photo Credit: Terry Lee Marzell
Summer has finally arrived, and this is traditionally the time of year when many educators are eager to incorporate travel into their vacation plans. Teachers know that travel, in addition to being fun and intellectually stimulating, is one of the most meaningful learning opportunities available for both themselves and for their students.
I recently returned from a trip to Israel and Jordan, and while I was there I could see many opportunities for incorporating travel experiences into classroom curriculum. I’ve already written about my visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Museum, and the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. Today I’d like to share with you my experience of Jordan’s Petra, truly a place of wonders.
Petra is an archeological site which served as the center of the caravan trade since Biblical times. The Nabataeans, a nomadic Arabic tribe, designated the location as their capital city. The Nabataeans were skilled at stone carving, and capturing and storing rainwater, and agriculture, which was no easy feat in the middle of a desert.
Visiting the site required a lengthy hike from the hotel, which I happily circumvented by renting a seat on an electric-powered golf cart. While zooming through the Siq, a narrow passageway through which we could see glimpses of the structure known as the Treasury, I observed the water conduits constructed to capture and convey rainwater for use by residents of the city. The Siq opens into a large plaza over which towers the stunning Treasury building. The structure features Hellenistic architecture, including Corinthian capitals, friezes, and figures, all carved into the beautiful red stone native to the area. There we were treated to a short camel ride, which was tons of fun. (Tell your students they must ride a camel at least once in their lives!) Then we hiked back into the site to explore a small amphitheater, the royal tombs, and the Great Temple. Of course, by the time we had done all that hiking we were both quite worn out, so a golf cart ride back to our starting point was a must. If you ever visit the place and intend to hike the entire length, be prepared to hike five or six miles, minimum.
Petra, which is also known as the Rose Red City, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The location is Jordan’s most visited tourist attraction; in 2019 alone, 1.1 million tourists made a pilgrimage to the place. For these reasons, it is well-worth a tour, and worthy of incorporation into classroom lesson plans. I can easily envision a discussion of Petra in a World History class, or even as part of a course on environmental strategies for managing resources.
To learn more about this extraordinary archeological site, click on this link to the official Petra website.
