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.

Pernella Anderson: Teacher and prominent folklorist

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Arkansas teacher Pernella Anderson collected oral histories under the auspices of the Federal Writers’ Project during the 1930’s.

Many talented educators come to be known for accomplishments outside of the classroom. One of these is Pernella Anderson, an elementary teacher who worked in Arkansas and Michigan who was also important as a collector of African American folklore.

Pernella Mae Center Anderson was born April 12, 1903 in Camden, Arkansas. She was the youngest of ten children born to Willis and Sallie (Washington) Center. Her father was a carpenter and her mother was a homemaker.

When Pernella grew up, she married Theodore Haynie, Jr., (circa 1920) and three children were born to the couple. Between 1922-1924, the young mother attended Arkansas Baptist College, where she earned a degree in liberal arts. Evidently, Pernella divorced Theodore and, on April 21, 1931, she married her second husband, William W. Anderson.

In 1935, Pernella accepted a teaching position in Lockesburg in Sevier County, Arkansas. The following year, she went to work for the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP), an organization associated with the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration (WPA). Pernella’s work there included collecting oral histories, some of which were published in the seventeen-volume Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves (1941). Additionally, she collected the folk stories of Black residents ranging in age from 19 to 92. Pernella was one of only two African Americans hired to do this work.

A lifelong learner, Pernella went back to school in 1944 to earn her teaching certificate, and then she completed the requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. From 1953-1955, Pernella taught school at Carver Elementary School in El Dorado in Arkansas’ Union County. In 1955, Pernella moved to Detroit, Michigan, and there she taught in Detroit public schools until the conclusion of her career.

This talented teacher and folklorist passed away on March 5, 1980, in Detroit. She is interred in Westlawn Cemetery in the town of Wayne, Wayne County, Michigan.

You can read more about this remarkable educator at this link: Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. To learn more about the Federal Writers’ Project, click on this link: FWP at the Library of Congress.

Arizona teacher Chris Ackerly served in state House of Reps

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Arizona teacher J. Christopher “Chris” Ackerly is a science and math educator from Tucson, Arizona, who also served in his state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Amphitheater High School.

There are many hardworking educators throughout our country who have also achieved success as politicians. One of these is John Christopher “Chris” Ackerly, a science and math educator who was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives.

Chris was born and raised in Arizona, primarily in the Tucson area. He graduated from Green Fields High School in 1990. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Science from Northern Arizona University in 1999.

After 18 years as an educator, Chris made a bid for elected office. He was elected on the Republican ticket to represent District 2. He served there from 2015 to 2017. While in the Arizona House of Representatives, Chris served as the Chair of the Government and Higher Education Committee; he was a former member of the Committee on Children and Family Affairs; and he was a former member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As a legislator, Chris worked diligently for increased school funding, greater support for more resources for the classroom, an increase in structured sober living homes, and greater support for owners of mobile homes.

Once he left office, Chris returned to his position as a teacher of Physics and Mathematics at Amphitheater High School in Tucson. He has also taught Statistics and Geometry, and K-8 Science and Technology. In addition, Chris serves on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Education Association.

To read more about Chris, see his website at Amphitheater High School.

Kimberly Stock named Delaware’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Kimberly Stock of Wilmington, Delaware, has overcome a rocky childhood as a child abandoned in Korea to become her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Delaware.gov.

I enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned acclaim for their work in the classroom. One of these is Kimberly Stock, a Language Arts teacher in Wilmington, Delaware, who has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Kimberly teaches Advanced Placement Literature, eleventh grade Language Arts. and oversees English-language acquisition courses at McKean High School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District. In addition to her work in the classroom, Kimberly serves as a District Diversity Champion, where she advocates for students of color in her district. In this role, she has spoken on panels and social justice committees, has led professional learning programs on diversity, and has empowered student leadership through her school’s Student Voices and Cultural Celebrations advisories. In addition, Kimberly has presented at the PENN Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages conference held at Temple University.

This amazing teacher also works as an administrator of the Claymont Community Center, an educational nonprofit. The organization secures partnerships with school districts, other nonprofits, and local agencies to create basic education and GED programs for adult learners. During her tenure there, the center’s adult ESL program served a multitude of immigrant students.

The honored educator has overcome many obstacles to reach this point in her life. As a child in Korea, Kimberly was abandoned. She once confessed that she does not know her actual age, birth place, or given name. “After living with a foster family in Korea, I was adopted by a white family in Nebraska,” Kimberly revealed. “Despite experiencing moments of trauma, racism, illness, loss and death caused by ethnic violence, I have been given new opportunities and second chances,” she said.

Kimberly earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1996. She earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. There she conducted research on the recruitment and retention of teachers and administrators of color. Additionally, Kimberly earned a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Delaware in 2020. Her work has resulted in a proposed curriculum for a course entitled Methods of Teaching English Learners for all new Delaware educators.

Indiana’s Becky Muncy teaches character education through music

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Elementary school music educator Becky Muncy of Bedford, Indiana, teaches her students character education through music. Photo credit: Becky Muncy

Many talented educators teach important concepts and life skills to their students through music. One of these is Becky Muncy, an elementary school music teacher from the North Lawrence Community School District in Bedford, Indiana. She has earned a stellar reputation through teaching character education through music.

Becky teaches character education through her CD entitled Blueprints for Life,  produced by Matt Wilder in Nashville, Tennessee. The creative effort garnered Becky a Children’s Music Web Award in 2005. In addition to her creative efforts, Becky has served as a coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) for the past seven years.

In her classroom, Becky uses puppet characters, songs, and other materials that work with children preschool through 5th grade. “The music and materials are kid tested and kid approved!” declares Becky. The honored educator says it has taken her over 40 years to develop the instructional materials for her curriculum.

The honored educator encourages her fellow educators to develop creative outlets for their students as well. “Look at what opportunities do exist in your school and community. Build on those things. You will be amazed at what doors open if you just look around,” Becky says. “Is it hard work – yes! Is it worth it – yes!” she declares. “You will find if you are doing what you love-teaching children, putting 100% into it, that will make it all worthwhile,” she concludes.

To learn more about this talented educator, see her website at www.beckymuncie.com.