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.

US Representative and Home Economics teacher Elizabeth Andrews

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Former high school Home Economics teacher Elizabeth Andrews was the first woman to represent Alabama in the US House of Representatives. Photo credit: Encyclopedia of Alabama

Many talented educators also distinguish themselves in the political arena. One such educator is Elizabeth Andrews, a high school Home Economics teacher who became the first woman to represent Alabama in the US House of Representatives.

Elizabeth was born on February 12, 1911, in Geneva, Alabama.  After she graduated from high school, she enrolled at Montevallo College, now known as the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1932.

The neophyte educator inaugurated her career at a high school in Livingston, Alabama. During the Great Depression, she relocated to a teaching position in Union Springs to earn more money.

When Elizabeth’s husband, George William Andrews, ran for office in the 78th US Congress, she worked tirelessly for his campaign. He won the election, and was re-elected 13 times. When her husband passed away in 1971, Elizabeth ran on the Democratic ticket unopposed for his position representing the 3rd Congressional District. When she won the election, she became the first woman to represent her state in the US Congress until 2010.

While in office, Elizabeth served on the Committee for Post Office and Civil Service. She introduced legislation to protect benefits for Social Security and health care. She also threw her energy into funding research centers working for cures for cancer and heart disease. She sponsored legislation to designate Tuskegee University a National Historic Site. In addition, she supported withdrawal from the VietNam conflict.

Elizabeth retired from politics in 1973. She moved to Union Springs, Alabama, and became engrossed in local community affairs.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away on December 2, 2002, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was nearly 92 years old. She was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Union Springs.

To read more about this Elizabeth Andrews, see this article about her in the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Educator Mohammad Ahmad of New York earns an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award

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Educator Mohammad Ahmad of the Bronx, New York, earned an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award.

This year, ten remarkable educators from around the country have garnered a Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award from Amazon. One of these is Mohammad Ahmad, a teacher at Bronx Academy of Letters in the Bronx borough of New York City. This is the first year Amazon has award the prestigious award.

Mohammad was recognized for his work to promote diversity and inclusion in computer science. “Computer science skills will be of vital importance as we take on and solve the challenges of the future,” asserted CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer Jeff Wilke.

“Growing up, I didn’t see many faces like mine in education, whether they were male or a person of color,” recalled Mohammad. “I grew up in a single-parent, low-income household. Although my mother got creative and made sure to provide us with resources or alternative resources to broaden our horizons, not all families are as privileged,” he continued. “I started teaching to make an impact on the lives of all students, to be an ally to students of color who often don’t see themselves reflected in the staff of their schools, and to try to broaden the horizons of those students who might not have access to the same resources as those from higher income families,” he concluded.

Mohammad graduated from JP Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida, in 2010. After his high school graduation, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in History, Psychology, and Arabic from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2015. He completed the requirements for his Master’s degree in Adolescent Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from St. John’s University in Temecula, California, in 2018. After several years of experience working in the private sector, Mohammad accepted a position at the Bronx Academy of Letters, where he has taught for the past four years.

All of the ten honored educators received a prize package valued at over $50,000 to be used to benefit his or her school and students. In addition, Amazon donated an additional $25,000 in school supplies, including Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets, classroom essentials from AmazonBasics, and additional items from Amazon Essentials. Award recipients also received one full year of Amazon Music Unlimited and a 12-month Audible.com Gold Gift Membership. Mohammad and his fellow award-winners also received a $200 Amazon gift card to celebrate his hard work.

To learn more about all the winners of the award, see this link at Amazonblog.

Teacher Angela McLean served as Montana Lieutenant Governor

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Former high school History and Government teacher Angela McLean also served as the Lieutenant Governor of the state of Montana.

Many talented educators also achieve success in the political arena. One of these is Angela McLean, a high school history and government teacher who became the Lieutenant Governor of the state of Montana. Angela was the first classroom teacher and only the second woman to serve in this position in Montana history.

Angela was born on August 19, 1970, In Twin Bridges, Montana. After she graduated from Twin Bridges High School, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana Western. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Montana Missoula. Angela was the first person in her family to graduate from college.

As a beginning teacher, Angela taught at Montana’s Arlee High School from 1994 to 1997. She taught at Anaconda High School from 1997 until she was appointed Lieutenant Governor on February 17, 2014. She held the position until 2016. At the time of her appointment, Angela was the chairwoman of the Montana Board of Regents, a position she held from 2012 to 2014. She also served on the Montana Board of Public Education and as an adjunct professor at Montana Tech of the University of Montana. After she left office, Angela served in the position of director of American Indian and minority achievement in the office of the state commissioner of higher education.

This remarkable educator credits her former teachers for her adult successes. “As a high schooler waiting tables at the Blue Anchor Cafe, it would have been hard for me to imagine one day becoming Lieutenant Governor – but great teachers and the support of my friends, my community, and my family have made today possible for me,” she said on the day she was appointed. These teachers “made me believe the sky was the limit,” she continued. “I think, even at times when the challenges I felt were so overwhelming that I might not have believed it, they made me see it. So I hope that somewhere along the line I made a difference in the lives of my students the way the teachers in my life made a difference.”

To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this link at Milken Educator Awards.com.

Junior high school teacher and former Arizona State Senator Ann Day

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Junior high school teacher and former Arizona State Senator Ann Day.

Many talented classroom teachers also earn success in the political realm. An excellent example of this is Ann Day, a public school teacher from Arizona who also served in her State Senate.

Ann was born Eleanor Ann Day in El Paso, Texas, on August 10, 1938. She was the daughter of a pioneering ranching family. Ann grew up on the ranch that was established by her grandfather in 1880. Ann was the sister of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Arizona State University in 1970. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Arizona in 1972.

After earning her degrees, Ann taught in junior high schools in the Alhambra School District in Phoenix. She also accepted assignments as a substitute teacher in the Tucson Unified School District in Tucson. Ann also worked as a marriage and family therapist for the Pima County Conciliation Court (1972 to 1982).

From 1990 to 2000, Ann served in the Arizona State Senate. She was elected on the Republican ticket. While in office, the former teacher served as Majority Whip. While in office, Ann was a member of the Judiciary Committee; the Commerce, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee; and the Rules Committee. Later she served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors (2000 to 2012). In addition, Ann served on the Arizona Industrial Commission.

As a politician, the former teacher had a reputation for being politically moderate. She was a staunch advocate for the rights of cancer patients to clinical trials and for reforms in the HMO industry. She is also credited with helping to bring semi-pro soccer to Tucson.

In her spare time, Ann was involved with the community with organizations such as Tucson Junior League, the Arizona Historical Society, and the State Liquor Board.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion was killed in an automobile accident near Tucson on May 7, 2016. The accident was triggered by a drunk driver. Anne was 77 years old.

To learn more about Ann Day, read her obituary at Find a Grave.