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.

NY teacher Christina Meek garners Big Apple Award

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Elementary school teacher Christina Mesk has garnered a 2024 Big Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education for her work promoting global education experiences. Photo Credit: New York City Public Schools

Whenever an outstanding educator earns recognition for their work with young people, I am excited. Today I am excited about New York elementary school teacher Christina Mesk, who has garnered a 2024 Big Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education.

Christina teaches Special Education to fifth graders at Public School 1, The Bergen School, located in Brooklyn. She has worked at the school for 20 years. In her self-contained classroom, Christina has create a nurturing and supportive learning environment that is student-centered. There she places emphasis in which risk-taking is encouraged.

Most especially, though, Christina’s curriculum incorporates exchanges with students in other countries. “My students have used virtual exchange to speak with travelers and experts in Colombia, Cambodia, Mongolia, Bolivia, and Antarctica,” explains Christina. “These virtual exchanges have enriched our classroom experience and helped my students to understand that people in different parts of the world have different feelings and perspectives,” she continues. “The relationships they have formed with these travelers and experts have resulted in an understanding that there is more than one way to live life and be a human,” she concludes.

The honored educator is a member of both the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program and the Transatlantic Educators Dialogue program. Also, she partners with local CBOs and nonprofits to bring virtual exchange to her classroom. In 2020, she was certified as a National Geographic Certified Educator. And as if all that were not enough, she also mentors new teachers.

Christina earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Language Arts from the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York in 2004. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from Hunter College in New York in 2008.

To learn more about Christina’s work with the Fulbright Global Classrooms Program, click on this link to an article published by the University of Mount Saint Vincent.

Former educator LK Atwood served in the Mississippi State Legislature

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Former educator Louis Kossuth (LK)  Atwood also served two terms as a state legislator for the state of Mississippi. (Photo Credit: Mississippi State Legislature.

Many fine classroom teachers also make excellent politicians. One of these was Louis Kossuth (LK) Atwood. In addition to his work as an educator, LK served as a state legislator in the state of Mississippi.

LK was born into slavery in Wilcox County, Alabama, on Dec. 15, 1850. When he was only 18 months old, he was sold at a slave auction. He was purchased for $300 by his own mother, who then took him with her when they relocated to Ohio. As a young boy, LK went to school in Ripley, Ohio. In 1874, he earned his Bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. During these years, he was also ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Once LK earned his degree, he accepted a teaching position in Bolton, Mississippi. Later he studied law and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1879. He then opened his own law practice in Bolton where he specialized in insurance law. In fact, he established precedents before the Mississippi State Legislature several times.

LK was elected on the Republican ticket to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he represented Hinds County for two terms. The first was from 1880 to 1881, and the second was from 1884 to 1885. After he left the legislature, LK appointed to a position as a United States Internal Revenue Service collector where he worked until 1899. In addition, he was named a delegate to attend the Republican National Convention several times.

The former teacher also had experience in the business world. He founded the fraternal insurance company known as the Sons and Daughters of Jacob of America in 1883. He ran this organization until his passing. He also helped establish the  Southern Bank in Jackson and served as its president. He was president of the Mississippi Negro Bankers Association.

Sadly, LK passed away on Jan. 8, 1929, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was 78 years old. He is interred at Mount Olive Cemetery in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

AZ teacher Andrea Barallardos named finalist for Arizona ambassador for Excellence

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Andrea Barallardos, a STEM teacher from Douglas, Arizona, has been named one of five finalists for a 2024 Arizona Ambassador for Excellence award. Photo Credit: Scripts Local Media

Congratulations are due to Andrea Barallardos, an exceptional math educator from Douglas, Arizona. She has been named one of five finalists for a 2024 Arizona Ambassador for Excellence award.

Andrea teaches engineering, technical education, and physics at Douglas High School. She has worked at the school since 1999. She also serves as the Chairperson for the Science Department, and she is a STEM coach and SkillsUSA advisor. Her students have excelled so well they have even garnered gold medals in Robotics and Automation technology in 2022 and 2023, and Mobile Robotics in 2023.

Andrea has also served as the school’s cheerleading advisor. Her teams have excelled there, too. In fact, they’ve won a total of five state championships, the most current being Division III Coed Cheer in 2023. 

When she was younger, Andrea’s decision to go into the classroom was not a foregone conclusion. “If you told me in high school that I was going to be a teacher I probably would have bet you a million dollars that I wasn’t,” she remembers. But her attitude about the profession took a radical change while she was studying to be a doctor in the Philippines. That’s when she was encouraged to consider education as a career by those who observed her teaching an anatomy class. “I love teaching,” Andrea declares. “So every day when I wake up it’s not like I’m going to a job. It’s like I’m going to something fun that I love doing,” she says.

Her recognition as an ambassador for excellence is not the only honor Andrea has received. In 2023, she was named Cochise County Teacher of the Year.

Andrea earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Sciences from Cebu Doctors’ University, Mandaue City, in the Philippines in 1998. She earned her Master’s degree in Science Education from Arizona State University in 2009.

To read more about Andrea Barallardos, click on this link to an article about her published by Skills USA Champions.

 

NJ teacher Mary Ruiz named the 2024 VFW Middle School Teacher of the Year

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Educator Mary Ruiz of New Jersey has been named the 2024 Middle School Teacher of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Photo Credit: Audacity, Inc.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has named Mary Ruiz of New Jersey, a professional educator and US veteran, as their Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2024.

Each year, the New Jersey VFW Teacher of the Year award recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching patriotism to their students. Each year, a teacher at the elementary, junior high, and high school level whose classroom curriculum focuses on citizenship topics is recognized for this award.

“It is gratifying to know that my dedication to connecting our youth with military members and veterans is seen as important and noteworthy,” Mary says. “More gratifying are the rewards I receive in witnessing connections and friendships being formed through these efforts,” she continues.

Mary teaches basic reading skills in Stafford Township Intermediate School. She was nominated for the honor by VFW Post 12173. One of the classroom projects which led her to earn the recognition is a student-led food drive to homeless veterans in the area. She also organized a Veterans Day Ceremony where local veterans and student family members ate breakfast together, followed by a ceremony recognizing the veterans’ service. The event included guest speakers, a question and answer session, and veteran interaction with the fifth and sixth grade students. Also among the lessons and projects she has developed are Patriot Day lessons about 9/11, Veterans Day lessons, a Memorial Day Biography, and a Flag Walk with Flag Day lessons.

Mary earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Elementary Education. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from Stockton University. She also holds teaching certificates as a Special Education teacher and Reading Specialist. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Travis Manion Foundation Spartan Leadership Program. For her work in the classroom, Mary was named as the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year in Stafford Township School District.

Before becoming a teacher, Mary served for ten years in the US Army, including two combat tours. By the time she was discharged, she had achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. But over the years, her devotion to her fellow veterans has not wavered. Outside of the classroom, Mary helps veterans transition from military service to civilian life. She also helps VFW officials organize mental health wellness programs and weekend retreats on Long Beach Island for transitioning veterans.

Math teacher Cristina Irimie, slain at Georgia’s Apalachee School, buried

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Math teacher Cristina Irimie was one of two teachers killed by a student with an assault rifle on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia. Photo Credit: CNN

Today we remember Cristina Irimie, a math teacher from Georgia. She was one of two teachers killed on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, by student Cole Gray, who was armed with an assault rifle. Her funeral was held on Sat., Sept. 14.

Two students were also among the slain. One other teacher and eight other students were wounded in the attack.

Cristina immigrated to the United States more than 20 years ago from her home country of Romania. After she established herself in this country, Cristina completed the requirements to become a teacher. She inaugurated her career as an educator in 2012. At Apalachee, she taught Algebra. In addition, she was active in Atlanta’s Romanian community and taught classes in traditional Romanian folk dance.

Students described the 53-year-old as caring and patient, and fellow educator Edward Yoon remembers his colleague fondly. “She will be dearly missed. I remember she and I would talk about how our students were doing in math, and she had understanding for the students and helped them succeed,” Yoon continued.

On the day she was killed, Cristina decided to celebrate her birthday with her students. She brought pizza and cake for her class and was in the midst of telling them corny jokes, they said, when she heard a commotion in the hallway and went to investigate.

At her funeral, Cristina was honored with a Romanian Orthodox service conducted in both English and Romanian. “We gather today to offer prayers for a noble soul,” observed the priest conducting the service. “Family members, friends, colleagues, and, in fact, many people throughout this nation and beyond are mourning the loss of a dear wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, parish member, colleague, teacher, and fellow citizen,” the priest continued.