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.

Suggestion for shopping for the holiday season!

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Season’s Greetings! I’m sure busy educators all over the country are busy wrapping up their current instructional programs, creating holiday lessons and programs, working on finals, and calculating semester grades. So much to do before the onset of Winter Break! At the same time, these dedicated professionals are decorating their classrooms, homes, and yards for the season, while also addressing holiday cards, baking cookies, and shopping for gifts. So much to do to get ready for the holidays, too!

Speaking of holiday shopping, I have a suggestion! Why not buy an inspirational book for the teacher in your family, your child’s special teacher, or the co-worker at your school? Or you could indulge yourself, and stock upon something inspirational to read during your much-needed Winter Break. I have two splendid titles to suggest:  Chalkboard Champions: Twelve Remarkable Teacher who Educated America’s Disenfranchised Students (available here) and Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and Their Deeds of Valor (available here), each one available in print or in e-book formats and reasonably priced. Enjoy!

ID math teacher Marcus Ross garners Milken Educator Award

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Junior high school mathematics teacher Marcus Ross of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, garners a prestigious Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

There are many outstanding educators working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Marcus Ross, a junior high school teacher from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He has garnered a prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award.

Marcus teaches mathematics to eighth graders at Lakes Middle School in Coeur d’Alene. hands-on instructional techniques, Ross tailors his lessons to meet each student’s individual needs. This amazing educator has a reputation for injecting energy into his curriculum by adapting word problems to stimulate student interest and using YouTube videos to simulate the steps to solve them. For a statistics unit, Marcus enlisted the aide of colleagues to role-play suspects in a mystery game that rewarded students with a clue each time they mastered a math concept. 

In addition, Marcus coaches cross-country, boys’ basketball, and track. He serves as an advisor for the campus  Kind Club, which organizes a “Drive by Kindness” event where students and parents are greeted cheerfully while arriving to school. And as if all that were not enough, he mentors and supports fifth graders at a nearby elementary school.

Early in his career, Marcus established himself as an instructional leader. He is a presenter for Lakes’ Deeper Learning Institute, and he serves on the PLC Guiding Coalition and the District Math Academy. Marcus also serves as a model educator in the Lab Host Network, where his classroom is open for observation by more than 100 teachers across several states and by the Idaho Department of Education. This year, Marcus is advancing his own professional development by completing an internship in administration. 

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more about the program, click on their website at Milken Educator Awards.

Teacher and school counselor Minnie Steckel worked on social causes

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Teacher and school counselor Minnie Steckel worked diligently for social causes that benefited women and her community as a whole. Photo Credit: The Sioux City Journal

Teacher and school counselor Minnie Steckel worked diligently for social causes that benefited women and her community as a whole.  Photo Credit: The Sioux City Journal

Teachers are among the most civic-minded individuals in American society. They work diligently for social causes that benefit their community, and society as a whole. This is certainly true about Minnie Steckel, a teacher and school counselor who became part of the poll tax repeal movement.

Minnie was born on March 19, 1890, in Woodbine, Kansas. In 1906, she enrolled at Kansas Normal School in Emporia, Kansas, completing her course of study in 1913. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, in 1917, her Master’s degree at the University of Chicago in Psychology in 1926, and her PhD from the University of Chicago in 1929.

While earning her degrees, Minnie taught school in Overbook and Burlingame, Kansas. She relocated to Iowa, where she taught in schools in Shenandoah, Blanchard, and Atlantic. By 1930, Minnie was working as a school counselor and the Dean of Women for Alabama College, a state-sponsored college for women located in Montevallo, Alabama. While there, she published many psychological and educational articles and books. She was also a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, the Alabama Mental Hygeine Society, the American Psychological Association, the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

In addition to her work as a counselor and author, Minnie conducted important research on the voting habits of women. She discovered that the low voting rate of women in elections was primarily due to the poll tax requirement, rather than their lack of interest in politics. This revelation launched her efforts to remove the poll tax, and to promote the rights of women to vote and serve on juries. She also worked tirelessly for the repeal of policies which prevented married women from working and for equal pay for women who did the same work as men.

Chalkboard Champion Minnie Steckel passed away on December 1, 1952. Following her passing, a scholarship for women was established by the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs in her honor. To read more about her, see the article, 34 Notable Alumni of Emporia State University.