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.

Missouri’s John Roderique: Stellar football coach and Athletic Director

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Webb City High School’s Head Football Coach and Athletic Director John Roderique has led his teams to 13 Missouri State Championships.

One of the most celebrated football coaches in the country is John Roderique of  Webb City, Missouri. There he works at his high school alma mater, Webb City High School. He also serves as the school’s Athletic Director.

John has been the Varsity Head Coach of Webb City’s football program since 1997. Since he has taken the helm, his teams have won an astounding total of 11 state championships. And they have logged an outstanding 10 undefeated seasons.

Despite all this success, John remains humble, and he encourages his players to remain humble, too. “I think one thing that maybe gets overlooked is just trying to keep everything in perspective in terms of never get too up and never get too down, and keeping all the winning and all of the success in perspective,” asserts John.

John was born in Joplin, Missouri. As a youngster, he attended Webb City High School. After his high school graduation, he enrolled at Pittsburg State University (PSU). There he played football as a starter for three years. In 1988 and 1989 he served as his team captain.

John earned his Master’s degree from PSU. Prior to his work in Webb City, John served as an Assistant Coach at Pittsburg State University for seven years.

For his stellar work as an athletic coach, John has earned many accolades. He’s been inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Joplin Area Sports Hall of Fame, the Webb City Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Pittsburg State Athletics Hall of Fame.

To read more about John, see this biography at Webb City High School.

Nominate a teacher to be recognized as a Chalkboard Champion

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There are so many talented educators out there that, by myself, I cannot possibly find out about them all. How about some help? Do you know a remarkable teacher? Someone everyone looks up to: students, parents, and administrators alike? Someone who serves as a model for the profession? A true Chalkboard Champion? This teacher could be someone who is already retired, or even someone from history that you admire. You can nominate that educator to be the subject of a blog post on this web site. Simply use the contact form at right to send me the name and email information for the teacher you would like to nominate. I’ll do the rest! Hope to hear from you soon!

Teacher Winchel Bacon: Part of the Underground Railroad

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Teacher Winchel Bacon: Abolitionist and member of the Underground Railroad.

In many cases hardworking school teachers become involved in important social causes. This is true of Winchel Bacon, a schoolteacher, farmer, businessman, and politician from Waukesha, Wisconsin, who participated in the Underground Railroad.

Winchel was born August 21, 1816, in Stillwater, New York, the son of Samuel and Lydia Barber Bacon. For two years, he worked as a clerk in Troy, New York, before joining his parents in their 1837 move to Butternuts, New York. On July 4, 1838, the young Winchel married Delia Blackwell, a native of Butternuts. For four years the couple ran a farm in Butternuts, while Winchel taught school in the village during the winters.

On September 2, 1841, the Bacons ventured west. They travelled from Utica to Buffalo, New York, by steamer, and from there to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From Milwaukee the young schoolmaster and his wife traveled west to what was then called Prairieville. This town in now known as Waukesha. There they settled for the remainder for their lives. Winchel continued to farm and teach school. From 1843, this intrepid pioneer ran a local newspaper and engaged in the wagon-making and blacksmithing business, in partnership with his brother-in-law Charles Blackwell and his friend, Edmund Clinton. In 1850 Winchel traded the business he’d built in Waukesha for a steam-powered sawmill located in nearby Brookfield.

Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, the abolitionist schoolteacher participated in the Underground Railroad. He even sheltered at least one fugitive slave in his own home. He was also active in organizing first the Liberty Party and then the Free Soil Party in Wisconsin. In 1852, he was elected to one term in the Assembly from Waukesha as a Free Soiler. Additionally, Winchel took an active role during the Civil War. In 1863, he was appointed paymaster in the army by President Lincoln. He was stationed at St. Louis.

After the war, Winchel used his influence to establish the Reform School located at Waukesha. As an acting commissioner, he had charge of the school’s accounts and disbursed the money until the school was opened. For several years he was a trustee of the State Insane Hospital. He also served as a trustee of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum. He was president of the Waukesha Agricultural Society for several years, and also served as a member of the Chicago University’s Board of Trustees. He was also a member of the Masonic Order of the Knights Templar.

In his later years, the former teacher was afflicted with a heart condition. At the age of 78, Winchel passed away at his home on March 20, 1894. He is buried in Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.