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.

Vocational ed teacher and US veteran Leland Huff

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Vocational education educator Leland Huff of San Bernardino, California, was also a US veteran. Photo credit: Lori Huff.

Many fine educators have also served our country in the United States military. One of these was Leland Huff, a vocational education teacher from San Bernardino, California, who served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Leland was born on March 18, 1932, in Inkster, Michigan. As a young man, he attended Western High School in Detroit, where he played football, ran track, and worked part-time at the Coca Cola Company. Once he graduated, Leland entered the US Army. During the Korean War, he served for two years in Hokkaido, Japan, as part of he Military Police.

Upon his discharge, Leland returned to Detroit and enrolled at Wayne State University on the GI Bill. There he earned first his Bachelor’s and then his Master’s degree in Special Education, with an additional Master’s in Industrial Education.

After teaching for several years in Michigan, Leland and his wife Mary decided to relocate to California. There he taught high school courses in wood shop and other subjects. He also conducted summer school instruction in working with wood, metal and plastic, and drafting. He also taught vocational education courses in the adult education program. As a teacher, Leland was appreciated for his encouraging words, advising his students to make all that they could of their lives, and he was well known for his sense of humor, telling jokes his students called “Huff Duds.” In all, Leland’s career as an educator spanned 41 years.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on May 7, 2021. He was 89 years old. Because he was a veteran, he was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. To read more about Leland Huff, see this obituary published by Bobbitt Mortuary.

Covid-19 claims life of Ohio teacher Amanda Chowning

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Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the life of Amanda Chowning, a special education teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo credit: John H. Evans Funeral Home.

Sadly, we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Amanda Chowning, a Special Education teacher and Intervention Specialist from Cincinnati, Ohio,, succumbed to the disease on May 25, 2021. She was just 36 years old.

Amanda was born on June 10, 1984, in Mariemont, Ohio. As a young girl, she graduated from Milford High School. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from the University of Cincinnati in 2009.

Amanda taught as Trojan Way High School located in North College Hill, Cincinnati. The school is an alternative learning center which offers intensive supports such as behavior modification groups, mental health counseling, and social skills training to equip students with the skills and strategies to successfully return to their home school, transition to a post-secondary educational setting, or enter into the world of work.

From 2011 to 2014, Amanda worked at The Children’s Home in Cincinatti. While employed at that facility, Amanda worked towards improving students’ lives through comprehensive education, behavioral services, and health services.

To read more about Amanda Chowning, see this obituary published by John H. Evans Funeral Home.

Miguel Cardona: Former elem teacher, current US Secretary of Education

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Former fourth grade teacher Miguel Cardona of Connecticut now serves as the United States Secretary of Education. Photo credit: Miguel Cardona.

Many talented educators also make excellent politicians. One of these is Miguel Cardona, an elementary school teacher from Connecticut who is currently serving as United States Secretary of Education.

Miguel earned his Bachelor’s degree at Central Connecticut State University in 1997. He earned his Master’s degree in Bilingual/BiCultural Education from the University of Connecticut, and in 2011 he earned his Ph.D. in Education from the same institution. In addition, he completed the requirements for a certificate in the Executive Leadership Program.

Miguel inaugurated his career as a fourth grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden, Connecticut. By 2003, when he was only 28 years old, he was named the principal of Hanover School, also located in Meriden. He was the youngest principal serving in the state. In 2012, Miguel garnered the 2012 National Distinguished Principal Award for his state and the Outstanding Administrator Award from the University of Connecticut’s NEAG School of Education. He has published several articles in such prestigious publications as the AASPA Perspective, the National School Boards Association, District Administration, and the Scholars Strategy Network.

From 2015 to 2019, Miguel served as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in his home town. He also worked worked as an Adjunct Professor of Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut. In August 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont appointed Cardona as the state’s Commissioner of Education, the first Latino to ever serve in the position.

President Joe Biden nominated the former elementary school teacher for the post of US Secretary of Education, and a coveted seat in the President’s Cabinet. On March 1, 2021, Miguel Cardona was confirmed to the post. He was sworn into office the next day by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Way to go, Miguel!

Louisiana teacher Lea Ann Fisher earns Golden Apple Award

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Lea Ann Fisher

I love to share stories about teachers who earn recognition for their dedication and hard work in the classroom. One of these is Lea Ann Fisher, a Career and Technical Education teacher at Bolton High School in Alexandria, Louisiana. She was named a recipient of the Golden Apple Award by her local television station KALB last November. This award honors outstanding teachers that go above and beyond in the classroom. Recipients are selected from nominations submitted by their students.

Lea Ann was nominated for the honor by her student Ironesha Woods. She stated that the impact Lea Ann has had on her life extends far beyond the classroom. “My teacher Mrs. Fisher is the most beautiful and kind woman I’ve ever met, and every time I feel like giving up, she always tells me that she loves me and she cares,” said Ironesha. “She was there when my mom passed and I love her for that. She means everything to me. She makes everything possible for my future, for the school future,” Ironesha continued.

Lea Ann’s career as an educator spans 14 years. She teaches engineering design, computer science, and Quest for Success. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she serves as the advisor for her school’s Robotics and E-Sports clubs.

Th Golden Apple is not the only recognition Lea Ann has earned. She was named Bolton High’s Teacher of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year. And she is also a member of the prestigious professional organization Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as her local chapter’s Second Vice President.

Lea Ann earned her Bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Louisiana State University. There she minored in Theater, Photography, and English. She also earned a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from American InterContinental University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northwestern State University.

Congratulations, Lea Ann!

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Iowa’s Grace Allen Jones: Champion for Black students

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Iowa’s Grace Allen Jones championed greater educational opportunities for Black students in her home state, Missouri, and Mississippi. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many talented educators work to improve the lives of others in their community. One of these was Grace Allen Jones, a teacher from Iowa who worked tirelessly to provide educational opportunities for African American youth in her home state, in Missouri, and in Mississippi.

Grace was born on January 7, 1876, in Keokuk, Iowa. Unlike many African Americans of her day, her parents were educated and financially well-off. As a young girl, Grace attended Burlington High School in Burlington, Iowa. There she earned her diploma in 1891. Following high school, she attended Burlington Normal School from 1894 to 1895.

After she earned her college degree, Grace spent three years in Missouri teaching at schools in Bethel and Slater. In 1902, she returned to Iowa and founded a vocational school for African American students. She named the school the Grace M. Allen Industrial School for Colored Youth.

When the school closed in 1906, Grace enrolled in public speaking courses a the Chicago Conservatory of Music. Once she completed her courses in Chicago, Grace worked as a fundraiser and public speaker, advocating for better educational opportunities for all the students in her community.

After her marriage to fellow-educator Laurence Jones, Grace accepted a teaching position at Piney Woods Country Life School in Rankin County, Mississippi. At this school, students were offered courses in agriculture, carpentry, dairy farming, and construction. To help support the school, Grace organized and led several student choir groups on fundraising tours across the South, the Midwest, and the East. The schools’ Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, the Cotton Blossom Singers, and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm were just three of several choral groups that Grace organized.

In addition to her classroom and fundraising responsibilities, Grace actively participated in clubs meant to advance the status of women and, more specifically, women of color. Those groups also worked to improve child care, to teach African American history, to start libraries for African American children, and to provide resources so that physically handicapped African American children could learn. In addition, she helped start an American Red Cross organization for African Americans, and she served as President of the Mississippi State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs from 1920 to 1924. Later she served as a statistician for the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs in 1925.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away of complications from pneumonia on March 2, 1928, in Piney Woods. She was only 52 years old. To read more about Grace Allen Jones, see this article published about her by Piney Woods School.