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.

NJ elementary teacher Maureen Moran honored by VFW

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Elementary school teacher Maureen Moran has been named a 2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Photo credit: Cedar Hill Elementary School

Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in the state of New Jersey honors three outstanding educators with their Teacher of the Year award. This honor recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching citizenship and patriotism to their students.

Each year, one teacher at the elementary, one at the junior high, and one at the high school level are selected. In making those selections, the organizations choose teachers whose classroom curriculum focuses on citizenship topics, including civic responsibility, patriotism, flag etiquette, and for providing their students with opportunities to honor veterans.

This year, elementary school teacher Maureen Moran has been chosen as the Elementary VFW Teacher of the Year. Maureen teaches second grade at Cedar Hill Elementary School, one of five elementary schools in Montville Township, New Jersey

In addition to her classroom work, Maureen is part of her school’s Character Education Program, which collects and assembles personal care donations from each class at the school. This year the committee assembled 57 complete Care Kits, which include shave, dental and shower items, and an additional 84 partial Care Kits, as well as collecting family size donations and extra supplies. The items are them distributed to needy individuals

In addition, Maureen is one of the organizers of her campus Veterans Day event. “Maureen Moran instills in her students, and students throughout the school, a sense of national pride and civic responsibility, combined with her unwavering commitment to character education,” asserts Ken Hanzi, Commander of VFW Post 5481. “Maureen has the exceptional ability to connect the values of citizenship and patriotism to her everyday teaching.”

To learn more about the VFW, click on this link.

 

Educator, Army veteran, and local politician Norton Younglove

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Educator, US veteran, and local politician Norton Younglove.of California. Photo credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Many exemplary educators have served their county in the military and their community in public office. One of these is Norton Younglove, a teacher from California, Army veteran, and former local civil servant.

Norton was born in Riverside, California, on October 8, 1929. After he graduated from Riverside High School in 1947, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Williamette University in Salem, Oregon. He married his wife, Ardith, and the couple returned to Riverside, where Norton worked in his father’s business, Home Oil Company.

During the Korean Conflict, Norton became a member of the US Army Signal Corps and served in Korea. Once he completed his stint in the Army, Norton earned his teaching credentials and accepted a position at first Sierra Junior High School and then at Ramona High School, where he taught courses in US Government.

It was at this point in his life that Norton decided to become involved in local politics. He served on the Riverside City Council. He also served as a County Supervisor for six consecutive terms, retiring from the Board in 1994. In addition, he served as a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and earned a reputation as a fighter who adamantly opposed air pollution. He was also instrumental in establishing a final resting place for many veterans at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside.

Throughout his life Norton was an accomplished sailor, winning the Snipes West Coast championship in his youth, and in the 1960s, he captured the title of the Labor Day Regatta with his three sons serving as his crew.

Norton passed away in Riverside, California, on January 17, 2025. He was 95 years old. To honor his legacy, the Norton Younglove Reserve in Beaumont, the Norton Younglove Community Center in Highgrove, and the Norton Younglove Senior Center in Calimesa—all located in Southern California—have been dedicated to his work.

NEA President Becky Pringle issues statement about President Trump’s federal budget-cutting policies

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Since President Donald Trump has announced his intention to impose deep cuts in federal spending to public education—and has even declared his intention to close down the United States Department of Education—many public school teachers have been worrying about how these actions will possibly impact them and students. In response,  educator Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, spoke out to ABC News on Feb. 15, 2025.

“What the Trump Administration has done through executive orders or through rhetoric is to diminish educators in a way that they are not in any way respecting their right and professional authority,” Pringle declared. “They are not listening to them about what they know their students need to learn.”

This Chalkboard Champion has long been advocating for smaller classroom sizes and individualized attention, as well as increased resources for students with disabilities and students from low-income families. She says these are just some student needs that are not being met. And, Pringle said, even though all over the country parents and educators have been working for the improvements, the Trump Administration is not making those needs a priority.

Furthermore, Pringle said that recent Trump moves “will have an immediate and devastating impact on millions. Students will lose access to learning opportunities if Head Start programs are shuttered. Parents will be cut off from childcare services they depend on so they can go to work and provide for their families. Students will go hungry if school meals are taken away. And the dream of higher education will be further out of reach as institutional aid for programs is affected. These are the real people impacted.”

Pringle knows exactly what she’s talking about. She has more than three decades of experience as a middle school science teacher. And the organization she leads, the National Education Association (NEA) represents more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, student teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. To learn more about the NEA, click on this link: www.nea.org

Chalkboard Books added to more prestigious library collections!

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I always get excited when I learn that one of my books has been added to the collection of a prestigious university library. A search of WorldCat reveals that both of my books have recently been added to the collections of prestigious university libraries.

My first book, Chalkboard Champions (Wheatmark: 2012), has recently been added to the library of West Virginia State University in Institute, West Virginia, and to the library of Queensboro Community College in Bayside, New York. It is also a part of the collection of the twelve other academic libraries. These include the University of Arizona, Tucson; University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii; the City University of New York in New York, New York; and Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. The volume is also part of the collection of the libraries of Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota; the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and the State University of New York in Oswego, New York. The book is also available at Hunter College in New York, New York; Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts; and the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. In addition, it is part of the collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

Chalkboard Heroes (Wheatmark: 2015) has been recently added to the collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The volume is also included in the collections of the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California; Chadron State University in Chadron, Nebraska; the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and the University of Chicago Library in Chicago, Illinois. The volume can also be found in the Alaska State Library in Juneau, Alaska; Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana; and Central Connecticut State Library in New Britain, Connecticut.

Many thanks to all these prestigious libraries for honoring my work!