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.

Retired teacher Rita Hart served in Iowa State Senate

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Retired junior and high school English teacher Rita Hart served her community in the Iowa State Senate. Photo credit: Rita Hart.

Many fine classroom teachers also become successful politicians. One of these is Rita Hart, a retired junior and high school English teacher who also served in the Iowa State Senate.

Rita was born on May 5, 1956, in Charles City, Iowa. Her parents owned a dairy farm. As a young woman, she earned her Associate of Arts degree from North Iowa Area Community College. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master’s degree from the University of Iowa.

Once she completed her education, Rita inaugurated her career as a public school teacher in the Bennett Community School in Bennett, Iowa. She  taught junior and high school English for two decades at rural high schools in Eastern Iowa.

In 2012, Rita was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Iowa state’s 49th Senate District. She was one of the rare politicians who enjoyed bi-partisan support. She served in her state’s Senate from 2013 to 2019. While there, Rita served on the Committees for Education; Veterans Affairs; Local Government; and Agriculture. She also served on the Early Childhood Iowa State Board; the Human Rights Board; and the Prevention of Disabilities Policy Council.

In addition to her work as a teacher and politician, Rita has worked as an international exchange coordinator at the Education First Foundation for Foreign Study. She also became Director of Community Relations at Pangaea International Academy in 2019.  She also serves her community as a liaison for the Keep Iowa Beautiful branch of Hometown Pride Committees. And as if all that were not enough, Rita is also a talented singer, being in demand as a soloist for weddings, funerals, and other events.

Today, Rita, who is now 65 years old, lives with her husband on her family’s farm in Wheatland, Iowa. To learn more about this chalkboard Champion, click on this link to the University of Iowa Archives of Women’s Political Communication.

English teacher and successful novelist Sara Hawks Sterling

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English teacher and successful novelist Sara Hawks Sterling of Pennsylvania wrote popular works about well-known figures of European history and legend. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many a talented classroom educator has also achieved acclaim as an author. One of these is Sara Hawks Sterling, a high school English teacher from Pennsylvania who became a successful novelist. Her published works include popular fiction tales about well-known figures of European history and legend.

Sara was born in Philadelphia. As a young woman, she attended schools in her home town, including the Girls’ High and Normal School and the M. M. Jones’ School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1918.

Once she earned her degree, Sara inaugurated her career as a teacher of English at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, where she worked from 1906 to 1912. She left that position to teach at the West Philadelphia High School for Girls. During her years as a professional educator, she became a member of the Women Teachers’ Organization.

While teaching, Sara published many novels about historical and legendary figures, including King Arthur, Robin Hood, and Anne Hathaway. Her novel entitled Shakespeare’s Sweetheart, published in 1905, was an early effort to portray William Shakespeare’s life and romances from the woman’s perspective. In 1900, Sara published Hamlet’s Brides: A Shakespearean Burlesque in One Act. In 1907, she wrote A lady of King Arthur’s Court: Being a Romance of the Holy Grail. In 1921, she published Robin Hood and His Merry Men.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities and her writing, Sara was a member of the Browning Society of Philadelphia, the Dickens Fellowship, the Shakespeare Company, and the Women’s Press Association.

You can read the most popular novels by Sara Hawks Sterling online for free at the following link to the Online Books Page.

 

William H. J. Beckett: PE teacher, coach, and humanitarian

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William H. J. Beckett (shown at right), exemplary PE teacher, coach, and humanitarian, was awarded a Tarbell Medallion from Springfield  College in 1947. Photo courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections.

I always enjoy sharing stories about exemplary physical education teachers and talented athletic coaches. One of these is William H. J. Beckett, a football coach and humanitarian from St. Louis, Missouri who earned a Tarbell Medallion from Springfield College.

William Henry Jackson Beckett was born in 1882. As a young man, he attended college in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the International YMCA Training School, now known as Springfield College. When he graduated in 1906, he was the first African American person to be awarded a Bachelor’s degree from Springfield College. William earned his Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1917, William accepted a position as the Head Football Coach at Howard University, a historically Black college located in Washington, DC. Later, William became the first full-time Athletic Director at the school.  During World War I, the hardworking and accomplished physical education instructor served as a lieutenant and physical education director for the Officers’ Training Camp for Colored Men in Des Moines, Iowa.

In 1919, William accepted a position to teach physical education at Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri. His career there spanned 35 years, until his retirement in 1954. During these years, he also worked as a physical education director at YMCAs in St. Louis. There he was affectionately known as “Pops.”

In 1947, William earned the school’s Tarbell Medallion in 1947. The award is presented to Springfield College alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service over a period of time to his or her alma mater. Since 2014, Springfield College has offered a William Beckett Teacher Preparation Scholarship, which offers one full-tuition and fees scholarship per year to a graduating student of color from Springfield Public Schools who is preparing to become a teacher of Pre-K through grade 12.

Sadly, William succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage on March 15, 1954. He was 71 years old. To read more, see his obituary published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Teacher and former First Lady of New Jersey Mary Jo Codey

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Elementary school teacher and indefatigable women’s health activist Mary Jo Codey is the former First Lady of New Jersey.  Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many times gifted and active educators find themselves immersed in the world of politics. This is certainly the case with Mary Jo Codey, an elementary schoolteacher who once served as the First Lady of New Jersey. Mary Jo served her state during the administration of her husband, Governor Richard Codey, a Democrat who was in office from 2004 to 2006. Governor Codey took office upon the resignation of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey.

Mary Jo was born on August 14, 1955, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and was raised in West Orange. After her high school graduation, she enrolled in Caldwell College, where she earned first her Bachelor’s degree and then her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She has also earned certification as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC) from Seton Hall University.

Once her husband took office, Mary Jo taught part time. Simultaneously she served as the ambassador for the Governor’s Book Club, which encouraged reading and literacy skills among elementary school children. This position gave her an opportunity to visit schools all over the state and read aloud to children. She also worked tirelessly to promote awareness for women’s mental health issues, particularly postpartum depression and breast cancer.

After her husband left office, Mary Jo accepted a teaching position at a private elementary school in West Orange, New Jersey.

Throughout her career, Mary Jo has contributed to a wide variety of causes. When her sons were young, she was active in Cub Scouts as a den mother and in her children’s school parent teacher associations. She is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Essex County, which honored her for her mental health advocacy efforts in 1995. Mary Jo also served as the first facilitator for a postpartum depression support group that was established at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 1994 and continues to operate today. Currently, she is an active member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this biography of her at the official website for the state of New Jersey.

Exploring DC’s National African American Museum online

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Author and retired educator Terry Lee Marzell shares information about how classroom teachers can guide their students in an online exploration of DC’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Photo credit: Terry Lee Marzell.

On a recent trip to Washington, DC, I truly tried my best to secure admission tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) located there. The museum finally re-opened on May 14 following a prolonged closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Alas, because of high demand and limited supply, an in-person visit for me was not to be. Therefore, like many classroom teachers, I’ll be exploring this fascinating museum online at NMAAHC.  Let me share with you some of what I have learned from examining the online resources.

In the exhibit entitled A Changing America, students can learn more about Slavery and Freedom. In addition, topics related to the years following the end of Reconstruction show how the nation struggled to define the status of African Americans. A wealth of information about the Civil Rights Movement can be explored at the link created for the Civil Rights History Project.

Students can explore the exhibition that details African Americans and military experience at this link: Double Victory. The exhibition covers topics related to the struggles of African Americans in the military going as far back as the American Revolution. Also included is information about coping in a segregated military and efforts to integrate the military.

Another exhibit shares aspects of African American culture, including oral tradition, literature, poetry, crafts, cuisine, fashion, dance, and nonverbal communication. See this exhibit at Cultural Expressions. Students can also explore African American art at this link for Visual Art, and musical expression at this link for Musical Crossroads.

Students can explore the specific artifacts contained in the museum’s collection by clicking on this link: Collection. Artifacts include such items as articles of clothing, letters, photographs, furniture pieces, household items, quilts, musical instruments, sheet music, as well as documents and instruments related to enslavement.

Teachers can examine additional resources, including resources for STEM, provided by the museum at this link at this link for Educators. So much information is available to those who want to learn more about African American history and culture. Enjoy!