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.

Former teacher Eileen R. Donovan serves as US Ambassador

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Many fine classroom teachers also establish excellent careers as diplomats. One of these was Eileen Donovan, a teacher from Massachusetts who once served as the American ambassador to Barbados.

Eileen was born in Boston. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Boston Teachers College in 1936. She earned her Master’s degree in Education in 1937. In addition, Eileen attended Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration, an institution now known as the John F. Kennedy School of Government. There she became a foreign Service Institute Fellow, and she earned a Master’s degree of Public Administration.

From 1938 to 1943, Eileen worked as a history teacher in the Boston Public Schools. During World War II, the intrepid educator joined the Women’s Air Corps. “I went down to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and trained and was lucky enough to be sent to the Officer Candidate School in Des Moines, came out as a 2nd Lieutenant,” Eileen once remembered. “Then I did various things in this country, like teaching at Oglethorpe such
fascinating subjects as Military Customs and Courtesies and Articles of War and things
like that.” She also served as the primary assistant to General Douglas MacArthur at the Tokyo headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

The former educator began her career in the Foreign Service in 1948, serving in the Philippines, Italy, and Japan, where she was a political liaison officer. In the late 1950’s she became chief of the Southern Europe branch of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research within the State Department.

From 1965 to 1969, Eileen served as Assistant Director of the State Department’s Office of Caribbean Affairs before her assignment to Barbados as Ambassador. With that assignment, she became the highest ranking woman in the Foreign Service. She served as the American Ambassador to Barbados from 1969 to 1974.

This remarkable educator and diplomat passed away from cardio-respiratory arrest on Dec. 19, 1996, in Spring Hill, Florida. She was 81 years old. To read more about this chalkboard Champion, read this interview published by The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, Women Ambassadors Series.

 

Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbs to Covid-19

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Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 19, 2021. She passed away just one day after her husband of 33 years. Photo credit: IndyStar

With great sadness we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Ann Grissom-Wilkins, a public school teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 9, 2021. She was just 59 years old.

Ann was born in 1961 in Detroit, Michigan. As a young girl, she attended Cass Technical High School in her home city. After her high school graduation in 1979, she attended Butler University, a private university located in Indianapolis.

The fallen educator had taught for 13 years in Indiana Public Schools. During those years, she also worked for local teachers’ unions, the Indiana State Teachers Association and for the Indiana Education Association.

According to family and friends, Ann was always promoting public school education. “She (was) deeply committed to her profession and her fellow educators,” recalled Indianpolis Public Schools Superintendent Alessia Johnson. “I think what she did well was holding everyone to account, because at the end of the day, her goal was kids were getting served as well.”

Since last March, the couple tried to do everything they could not to get sick. Family members said the couple were very careful because Ronald was a diabetic and Ann had recently completed radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Despite all their precautions, both became ill and were hospitalized with a diagnosis of Covid-19. Ronald passed away on Jan. 8, and Ann succumbed one day later. Heartbroken family members note that Ann and Ronald had met as youngsters, while both were students at Indianapolis Public School #43. The couple had been married for 33 years, and they had three children.

To read more about this hardworking and dedicated teacher, see her story published by WRTV Indianapolis.

Jim Johnson of Eastvale, CA, earns prestigious SCSBOA award

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Music educator Jim Johnson (left) of Eastvale, California, has just earned the 2021 Veteran Teacher Award from the Southern California School Bands and Orchestra Association.. Photo credit: Jim Johnson.

I always enjoy sharing the stories of superlative educators who have earned accolades for their work with young people. One of these is Jim Johnson, a music educator from Eastvale, California. Jim has just been named the recipient of the 2021 Veteran Teacher Award by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA).

The Veteran Teacher Award is awarded  to teachers who have made an extraordinary contribution to local music education, and who have taught 20 years or more. In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Jim has taught band and orchestra at all levels, including elementary school, junior high school, high school, and college. Currently, he serves as the Director of Bands and Color Guard for Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS), a public high school located in the Corona Norco Unified School District. There he instructs over 250 student musicians in marching band and orchestra ensembles.

Before working at ERHS, Jim directed music programs at Travis Ranch Middle School in Yorba Linda, CA;  Palm Springs High School in Palm Springs, CA; Rancho Cucamonga High School in Racncho Cucamonga, CA; and Esperanza High School in Anaheim, CA. “Every position Jim Johnson has taken on has resulted in success for students and schools,” reads the SCSBOA announcement of his award.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Jim has also served as an SCSBOA Field and Parade adjudicator and as a member of the music list committee. He has hosted field show tournaments and solo and ensemble festivals. He has also supported the honor groups as a manager of the All-Southern Jazz Honor Band.

Congratulations, Jim! To read more about this superlative music educator, see this link to CNUSD.

 

Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm: Teacher, counselor, and politician

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Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm of Texas: Elementary school teacher, high school counselor, and politician extraordinaire. Photo credit: Molly Beth Malcolm

Many fine educators become equally successful politicians. This is the case with Molly Beth Malcolm, a former elementary schoolteacher and counselor who once became the Chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party.

Molly was born on April 26, 1955. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Methodist University and her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A&M University, Texarkana. She completed the requirements for her Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a Concentration in Community College Leadership (CCLP) from The University of Texas, Austin.

Once she earned her degrees, Molly inaugurated her career as an elementary and kindergarten teacher. Between 1977 and 1984, she taught in public schools in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. She also worked as an elementary school counselor in Texarkana, as part of the Arkansas School System. Later she worked as the high school Counseling and Student Services Coordinator at Texas High School in the Texarkana Independent School District (1984-1989). There she also served as the Sophomore Class Counselor. Throughout her career in public schools, Molly has worked to improve public and higher education as a teacher, counselor, and coordinator of school counseling and drug free schools programs.

In addition to her work in schools, Molly has also made her mark in politics. In 1998, she was elected as the former Chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party. She was re-elected to the position in 2000 and 2002. Additionally, she is a former secretary of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees. Currently she serves as a member of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees in Texarkana.

For her work in the classroom, Molly has earned many accolades. She was named the Winnsboro High School Distinguished Alumna in Winnsboro, East Texas, in 2010. She has also been recognized with the Texarkana NAACP Torchbearer Award for Extraordinary Community Contributions; the Texarkana Martin Luther King Jr. Acts of Kindness Leadership Award; the Texarkana Community Journal Outstanding Woman Award; and the Four States Living Magazine Tribute to Women Award.

To learn more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see her website at Molly Beth Malcolm.