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.

Educator Maritcha Remond Lyons: Abolitionist and humanitarian

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Educator Maritcha Remond Lyons was an abolitionist and humanitarian. Photo credit: Public Domain

American history abounds with stories about teachers who have accomplished heroic achievements. One such teacher is Maritcha Remond Lyons, an African American woman who served the New York City public school system for 48 years. She was also an accomplished musician, an avid writer, and a published author.

Maritcha was born on May 23, 1848, in New York City, the third of five children born to parents Albro and Mary (Marshall) Lyons. She was raised in New York’s free black community, where her father operated a boarding house and outfitting store for Black sailors on the docks of New York’s Lower East Side. Her parents emphasized the importance of making the best of oneself, and they also modeled the significance of helping others.

A sickly child, Maritcha was nevertheless dedicated to gaining an education. Maritcha once said she harbored a “love of study for study’s sake.” She was enrolled in Colored School Number 3 in Manhattan, which was governed by Charles Reason, a former teacher at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia.

Maritcha’s parents were abolitionists, and were both active in the Underground Railroad. Obviously, these activities were not without dangers. The family home came under attack several times during the New York City Draft Riots of July, 1863, when Maritcha was just a teenager. The family escaped to safety in Salem, Massachusetts, but after the danger passed, her parents insisted on sending their children to live in Providence, Rhode Island. In Providence, Maritcha was refused enrollment in the local high school because she was African American. Because there was no school for black students, her parents sued the state of Rhode Island and won their case, helping to end segregation in that state. When she graduated, Maritcha was the first Black student to graduate from Providence High School.

After her high school graduation, Maritcha returned to New York, where she enrolled in Brooklyn Institute to study music and languages, When she graduated in 1869, she accepted a teaching position at one of Brooklyn’s first schools for African American students, Colored School Number 1.

Maritcha’s worked first as an elementary school teacher, then as an assistant principal, and finally as a principal. During her nearly 50-year career, she co-founded the White Rose Mission in Manhattan’s San Juan Hill District, which provided resources to migrants from the South and immigrants from the West Indies.

This remarkable chalkboard hero passed away at the age of 80 on January 28, 1929.

Teachers help preserve the freedoms we all enjoy

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As we celebrate the birth of our country today, I am reminded of the role our nation’s many Chalkboard Champions have played throughout history to preserve and perpetuate the freedoms we all enjoy.

Classroom educators teach our children about our nation’s rich heritage, our culture, our history, and our system of government. They lead children in the creation of hand-traced turkeys at Thanksgiving, teach them the words and music to our patriotic songs, design lessons about the accomplishments of our presidents and social reformers such as political activist Martin Luther King and labor leader Cesar Chavez, remind students of the contributions of our veterans, and organize patriotic festivities throughout the year. Our teachers even educate our kids about our failures so that we can become a better democracy.

And let’s not forget that many of our nation’s courageous teachers have become, themselves, a part of our country’s historical record. There are many fine examples. Think of Olive Mann Isbell, the Ohio teacher who was one of many pioneers who established a school in the Wild West frontier, or Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire history teacher who became the first educator in space. Think of Henry Alvin Cameron, the Tennessee science teacher who sacrificed his life for freedom in the WWI Battle of the Argonne Forest; or Robert Parris Moses, the New York City math teacher who played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Think of Carrie Chapman Catt, the Iowa teacher who dedicated her life to earning the right to vote for women, and Zitkala-Sa, the South Dakota teacher who worked to secure the vote for Native Americans.

From sea to shining sea, there are thousands of teachers in our nation’s history who have made contributions to our society in large ways or quiet ways as veterans, activists, and supporters of our democracy. We thank them all for the freedoms we celebrate today.

You can read about some of these heroic teachers in my first book, Chalkboard Champions, or in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes, both available on amazon.

CO teacher Michelle Pearson inducted into the 2025 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame

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Middle school Social Studies teacher Michelle Pearson of Thornton, Colorado, has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Photo credit: NTHF

I always enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Michelle Pearson, an elementary school teacher from Colorado. Michelle is one of five educators who have been inducted into the 2025 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF).

Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from Mary Washington University in 1991. She inaugurated her 31-year career in the teaching profession when she accepted a position as a fifth grade teacher at Woodland Academy in Virginia. From there she went to the Annunciation School in Denver, where she taught K-8 technology. Next, she taught at Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Hulstrom, Colorado, in 2005. For the last ten years she has taught eighth grade social studies at Century Middle School in Thornton, Colorado, near Denver.

In her classroom, Michelle employs place-based learning. She regularly provides field study opportunities so her students can learn about historic places and public lands. She also employs real-world civics advocacy projects by asking them to write portions of local, state, and national legislation. Furthermore, she and her students have worked to lobby federal legislators for funding to support national parks and historic places, including key archaeology sites in the Four Corners region. Specifically, she led her students to work  with legislators to help craft the Great American Outdoors Act, which helped to fund public lands.

Michelle’s NTHF honors includes a check for $20,000 by Canva, and an additional $20,000 check goes to her school. In May, she and her fellow inductees were flown to New York City for an in-studio appearance on CBS Mornings.

Michelle’s induction into the NTHF is not the only accolades she has earned. In 2011, she was named the Colorado State Teacher of the Year. In 2008, she was recognized as the Colorado Apex Technology Teacher of the Year

To read more about Michelle Pearson, click on this link to the NTHF.

HI teacher Kristy Inamasu garners prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award

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Kristy Inamasu, a kindergarten teacher from Honolulu, Hawaii, has garnered a prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award.  Photo credit: Maui Now

Congratulations to Kristy Inamasu, a public school elementary school teacher from Honolulu, Hawaii. She has garnered a prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation.

Kristy teaches kindergarten at Kalihi Uka Elementary School. She began working at the school as a part-time teacher. Since then, she has served as the campus Primary School Adjustment Program Coordinator, a member of the Instructional Leadership Team, and a participant of the School Community Council. She has also provided ESL (English as a Second Language) student support, and taught kindergarten and first grade full-time. She also serves the school’s Head Volleyball Coach.

Kristy says she was enthusiastic about working with children at a young age, when she enjoyed taking care of the younger children at family gatherings. Teaching kindergarten is “extremely important,” she declares. “This might be the first experience of school for students,” she remarks. “It’s so important to get students excited about learning to fuel their curiosity…to interact among themselves,” she concludes.

In her classroom, she plans lessons that emphasize collaborative learning. Her strategies have resulted in an increase in Kalihi Uka’s scores in reading by 8 points and math scores by 12 points from the previous school year.

Kristy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2012 and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education in 2014, both from Chaminade University, a private university located in Honolulu.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the award includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country whose work strengthens best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

 

 

Elem educator Heidi Cornell named Idaho’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher Heidi Cornell has been named Idaho’s 2025 State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: IDED News

There are many outstanding educators working in our nation’s schools. All of them are deserving of accolades, and every year some of them receive the recognition they deserve. This year, one of them is Heidi Cornell, an elementary teacher from Idaho. She has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Heidi teaches third graders at Orchards Elementary School in Lewiston, Idaho. Her career in education spans 16 years. In her classroom, she develops curriculum that is student-center, collaboration, and hands-on learning experiences.

But her major emphasis is on relationships. “My mission is that you feel deeply loved when you are with me,” Heidi declared. “When I state I want you to feel deeply loved when you are with me, that includes the easy to love, the unlovable, and the ones who disagree with me,” she continued.

In addition to her third grade curriculum, Heidi serves as her school’s Professional Learning Community Lead, the PBIS Tier 1 facilitator, as a member of the Guiding Coalition team, and as a participant on the Crisis Assistance Support Team. And as if all that were not enough, she also mentors student teachers.

In addition to her selection as Idaho’s Teacher of the Year, Heidi was recognized as the Martha Baskin Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2020 and the Best of Inland Northwest Elementary Teacher finalist in 2024.

Heidi earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Nyack College in Nyack, New York. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. 

The Idaho Teacher of the Year program, in partnership with CapEd Credit Union, honors the state’s most outstanding teachers by selecting an educator to serve as spokesperson and representative for Idaho at a variety of local and national events. Heidi was selected from 40 applicants from all over the state. In addition to being Idaho’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year, Heidi received a commemorative plaque and a check for $10,000.

Read more about Heidi Cornell at this link to a press release by the Idaho State Department of Education.