Author Archives: Terry Lee Marzell
MD teacher and AP Keishia Thorpe inducted 2024 National Teacher Hall of Fame
Maryland teacher and Assistant Principal Keishia Thorpe has been inducted into the 2024 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Our Today
There are many fine administrators win our nation’s public schools who have earned accolades for their work with young people. One of these is high school Assistant Principal Keishia Thorpe of Springdale, Maryland. She has been inducted into the 2024 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF)!
Before her promotion to Assistant Principal, Keshia taught English at International High School Langley Park in Bladensburg, Maryland. While she was there, she redesigned the twelfth-grade curriculum for her school’s English Department, making the courses culturally relevant for her students, who comprised first-generation Americans, immigrants, or refugees from countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. Her work resulted in a 40% increase in her students’ reading scores. In addition, Keishia was successful in helping many high school students gain fully-funded scholarships. In fact, she helped seniors win $6.7 million in scholarships in 2018-2019 alone.
Keishia says, as an immigrant to the United States herself, she personally experienced the struggles of underprivileged students. She came to this country from Jamaica on a track and field scholarship. With her twin sister Dr. Treisha Thorpe, Keishia founded a non-profit organization called US Elite International Track and Field, Inc. The organization strives to help at-risk student-athletes from around the globe connect with college coaches to access fully-funded scholarships in the US.
“Every child needs a champion, an adult who will never ever give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the very best they can be,” asserts Keishia. “This is why teachers will always matter. Teachers matter,” she continues.
Her induction into the NTHF is not the only recognition Keishia has garnered. In 2023 she earned a Joe R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. The same year, she was named the recipient of the International Activism Award from Mexico and the African Diaspora Advisory Board Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2022, she was recognized as a Global Teacher Prize Winner.
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Colonel Francis Wayland Parker: Teacher and Civil War Veteran
Colonel Francis Wayland Parker, Civil War veteran and celebrated pioneer of the Progressive Movement in education. Photo credit: myhero.com
At the turn of the of the 20th century, one of the most celebrated pioneers of the Progressive Movement in education was Colonel Francis Wayland Parker. In a time when modern ideas were not popular, this innovative educator promoted a philosophy that education should not emphasize standardization, rote memorization, and isolated drill. Rather, he advocated a curriculum that addressed the development of the whole student, including the child’s intellectual, physical, and moral growth. He created a model program that was strong on language development and geared towards teaching students to think and make decisions independently. Today, we would recognize his strategies as teaching critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving.
Francis Parker was born on Oct. 9, 1837, in Bedford, New Hampshire. At the tender age of 16 he became the village teacher, and when the Civil War broke out seven years later, this young educator enlisted as a private in the 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Army. It wasn’t long before he was promoted to lieutenant, then to lieutenant colonel, and then to commander. In May, 1865, Colonel Parker was captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war in North Carolina.
When the war was over, this Civil War veteran resumed his teaching career, first as a teacher, and then as a principal. In 1872, the continuously evolving educator traveled to Germany to study pedagogy at the Humboldt University of Berlin. When he returned, he became the coordinator of a highly-acclaimed teacher-training institution in Chicago, Illinois.
Colonel Parker is an American hero in so many ways, and is undoubtedly a Chalkboard Champion in the truest sense of the word. You can read more about this remarkable historical figure in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and Their Deeds of Valor, available from amazon.
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Cindy Mui-Fung garners 2024-2025 Big Apple Award
Elementary school teacher Cindy Mui-Fung has garnered a 2024-2025 Big Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education. Photo Credit: Cindy Mui-Fung
It is always a pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educational who has earned recognition for the work they do in a public school classroom. One of these is Cindy Mui-Fung, an elementary school teacher who has garnered a coveted 2024-2025 Big Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education.
Cindy teaches fifth grade at Public School 083, Luis Munoz Rivera Elementary, in Manhattan. In her classroom, Cindy emphasizes acceptance and respect, developing lifelong learners, equitable instruction, and a variety of teaching methods to support all learners. She also employs interdisciplinary curriculum mapping and project-based learning. Her career as an educator in the East Harlem area of Manhattan spans 27 years.
In addition to the work in her classroom, Cindy organizes valuable after school programs for her students. For example, she established a garden on her campus, which she and her students work hard to plant and cultivate when their academic work in the classroom in finished for the day.
The Big Apple Awards recognize and celebrate New York City teachers who inspire students to be their best selves; who model equitable learning with high expectations for the diverse and dynamic needs of all students; who affirm students’ identities; and who enrich their school communities by partnering with families, community members, and community-based organizations. To learn more, click on this link to Big Apple Awards.
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Teacher Helen Hulick worked to eliminate “anti-slackism” for women
Teacher Helen Hulick, who pioneered new strategies for working with deaf students, fought the good fight against “anti-slackism” for women. Photo credit: Los Angeles Times.
Often times plucky educators will take a stand on social issues that benefit everyone. One of these was Helen Hulick, who helped eliminate the threat of “anti-slackism” for women. What is “anti-slackism,” you ask? Read on to find out.
Helen was called to court as a witness in a burglary case in November, 1938. The 29-year-old had earned some renown as an innovative educator who pioneered auditory-verbal approaches for working with deaf children. She arrived at court in her usual attire of a blouse and slacks. But seeing slacks on a woman offended Judge Arthur S. Guerin so greatly that he wouldn’t allow the teacher to testify. Instead, he rescheduled her testimony and ordered her to wear a dress at her next appearance. However, Helen refused to comply with the court order. “You tell the judge I will stand on my rights,” the teacher declared. “If he orders me to change into a dress I won’t do it. I like slacks. They’re comfortable.”
The second time she appeared at court wearing slacks, the judge criticized Helen, for both her wardrobe and her attitude. “The last time you were in this court dressed as you are now and reclining on your neck on the back of your chair, you drew more attention from spectators, prisoners and court attaches than the legal business at hand,” the judge complained. “You were requested to return in garb acceptable to courtroom procedure. Today you come back dressed in pants and openly defying the court (…) “The court hereby orders and directs you to return tomorrow in accepted dress. If you insist on wearing slacks again you will be prevented from testifying (…) But be prepared to be punished according to law for contempt of court,” the judge warned. Again, Helen refused. “Listen, I’ve worn slacks since I was 15. I don’t own a dress except a formal,” she said. “If he wants me to appear in a formal gown that’s okay with me. I’ll come back in slacks and if he puts me in jail I hope it will help to free women forever of anti-slackism,” she declared.
For a third time, Helen went to court wearing slacks, but this time, she also brought with her Attorney William Katz. The attorney was armed with citations supporting Helen’s argument that she had the right to appear in the attire of her choice. Nevertheless, Judge Guerin held her in contempt of court and sentenced her to five days in jail. There she was forced to wear the denim dress worn by women prisoners. When her attorney declared they would be appealing the sentence, Helen was released on her own recognizance. But by then, Helen’s story had generated a great deal of attention, and hundreds of supporters sent letters of protest to the courthouse. As a result of the appeal, the Appellate Division overturned Judge Guerin’s contempt citation.
As a teacher in deaf schools in Oregon and California, Helen Hulick continued to do amazing work throughout her career. In 1985, she was given an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Lafayette College “for her work as teacher, scientist and pioneer in the field of auditory therapy.” In 1988, when she was 80, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf awarded her the organization’s highest tribute, Honors of the Association. Helen not only made a difference in the lives of so many students, but also for helping to free women of “anti-slackism” along the way.
Many thanks to author Dr. Rebecca Haines for sharing the story of this amazing educator.
