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.

The remarkable teacher and First Lady Jill Biden

Posted on by

 

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, a former high school English teacher and current community college professor, continues to teach despite her numerous responsibilities as America’s First Lady. Photo Credit: the hill.com

You may be familiar with Dr. Jill Biden, the nation’s current First Lady. But did you know that she is a former high school English teacher? In addition to her experience at the secondary level, Jill has been a professor of English at Community College since 2009. In fact, she continued teaching throughout her entire tenure as First Lady.

Jill was born on June 3, 1951, in Hammonton, New Jersey. She was raised in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. After she graduated from Upper Moreland High School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvnia, in 1969, Jill earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware (1975). She earned two Master’s degrees, one in English from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and one in Education from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Education from the University of Delaware.

After earning her degrees, Jill accepted a position teaching English and reading in high school. She taught for three years at Claymont High School in Delaware, and then at Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Delaware (1991-1993). For five years she taught adolescents with emotional disabilities at Rockford Center Psychiatric Hospital.

From 1993 to 2008, Jill taught English and writing at Delaware Technical & Community College. Since 2009, she has worked as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College.

When her husband was elected to serve as the Vice President under the Obama Administration, and later while her husband served as the 46th President of the United States,  Jill continued to teach full time, even though she had many responsibilities as a public figure.

And her work as a public servant and educator continue. Dr. Jill Biden: A true Chalkboard Champion.

Dr. Cornel Pewewardy inducted into OK Educators Hall of Fame

Posted on by

I am always excited when an outstanding educator earns recognition for their contributions to the teaching profession. That’s what this blog and website is all about! Today, I am excited to write about the selection of Cornel Pewewardy to the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.

Dr. Cornel Pewewardy has been named a 2024 inductee into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Oklahoma Educators Hal of Fame

Cornel is best-known for his research and scholarship, which have greatly influenced public and higher education, especially for Native American students, educators, and administrators. Through this research, he challenged and expanded the understanding of Indigenous education, teacher training, and tribal leadership preparation throughout the state of Oklahoma and nationwide.

With lineage that traces back to Comanche and Kiowa roots, Cornel once served as the Vice Chair of the Comanche Nation. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, a professor-of-practice at Kansas State University, and as an adjunct faculty member at numerous colleges and universities in Oklahoma and across the country. In addition, he’s an author and frequent presenter on Indigenous education issues.

Cornel inaugurated his career in education as a recreation assistant for Sequoyah Indian High School in Tahlequah in 1975. He then went on to serve in positions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the University of Oklahoma; the University of Minneapolis; Saint Paul (Minnesota) Public Schools; the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha; Cameron University in Lawton; Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio; Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas; Comanche Nation College in Lawton; Portland State University in Oregon; and Kansas State University. He also founded the Comanche Academy Charter School in Lawton.

Cornel earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northeastern State University (Tahlequah), a second Master’s degree from New Mexico State University, a post-graduate certificate from the University of New Mexico, and his PhD from Pennsylvania State University.

His induction into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame is not the only recognition Cornel has earned. He has been named the Big XII Outstanding American Indian Faculty of the Year five times, and he also received the Crystal Eagle Award for Outstanding Leadership at the University of Kansas. He has also received the National Indian Education Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and honors from the University of Kansas Endowment Association, Portland State University, the Oregon Indian Education Association, and the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education.

Congratulations, Dr. Cornel Pewewardy!