Category Archives: Education

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.

Maryland Elem teacher Kelly Cannon earns award from SMECO

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Kelly Canon, an elementary school STEM teacher from Maryland, is the recipient of a 2024 Outstanding Teacher award from the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. Photo Credit:

Congratulations go to Kelly Cannon, an elementary school teacher from Maryland. She was the recipient of a 2024 Outstanding Teacher award from the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO).

The annual honor is awarded to 20 outstanding teachers who have taught mathematics, science, technology, and engineering courses in the school systems of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties. The winning teachers were selected for their creativity, rapport with students, enthusiasm for teaching, professionalism, and innovative teaching methods.

Kelly teaches mathematics at Mount Harmony Elementary School in Owings, Maryland.

Over the past 33 years, SMECO has recognized nearly 500 teachers in an effort to support teachers who bring real-world science and math applications into the classroom. Each honored teacher receives a plaque and a cash award.

 

Social Studies teacher Greg Kester named Missouri’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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High school Social Studies teacher Greg Kester of Potosi, Missouri, has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Missouri NEA

Many outstanding classroom teachers have garnered recognition for their work with young people. One of these is Greg Kester, a high school Social Studies teacher from Missouri. He has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Greg teaches at Potosi High School located in Potosi, Missouri. There he instructs courses in American History, Western Civilizations, American Political Systems, Psychology, and Sociology. He also serves as the Social Studies Department Chair. In addition, he serves as the faculty sponsor of Future Teachers of America, coaches the Scholar Bowl, and is the cadet teaching coordinator.

In addition to the work at the high school, each semester Greg teaches a college-level course in Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society, as well as an accompanying course in field experience.

Greg’s honor as the 2024 Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition Greg has earned. In 2023, the Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars named him the Missouri High School Teacher of the Year. That same year, the Missouri State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution named him Missouri’s Outstanding Teacher of American History. In addition to these awards, Greg is a member of the Missouri National Education Association and past president of the association’s Potosi chapter.

“Relationships are my greatest accomplishments as an educator,” declares Greg. “Students aren’t data points,” he continues. “Standardized test scores are not always reflections of what was taught; they are sometimes the reflection of what a young person had to overcome and still succeed. That is what I have learned in almost three decades of teaching public school in rural Missouri,” he concludes.

Greg earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education at Southeast Missouri State University in 1995. He earned a Master’s degree in history from Southeast Missouri State University in 2001, and he completed graduate courses in school and community counseling at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, from 2010-2013 so he could qualify to teach psychology, sociology, and education classes. His career as an educator spans 28 years.

VT elem teacher Aziza Malik named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Vermont elementary school teacher Aziza Malik has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Colchester Sun

I am always excited to share the story of an outstanding teacher who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Today I share the story of Aziza Malik, an elementary school teacher from Vermont. She has been named her state’s 2024  Teacher of the Year by the Vermont Agency of Education.

Aziza teaches fifth grades at Champlain Elementary School in Burlington. She has taught there for the past 14 years. In her classroom, the honored teacher emphasizes connections between the Burlington School District and the local Indigenous population, the Abenaki. “Opportunities to weave in Indigenous ways of knowing and being are everywhere,” asserts Aziza. “I’m not talking about designing curriculum that teaches about Abenaki culture, I’m talking about using the lens of Abenaki culture to learn literacy, science and math skills; and writing, advocacy, collaboration and communication,” she explains.

She is also a big believer in hands-on learning. For example, she recently led her students on a field trip where they collected acorns, dogwood, and willow bare roots f to plant in their native tree nursery. Once the plants are grown, the students will distribute them throughout the city of Burlington.

In fact, through community partnerships, Aziza secured an intern to help plan, maintain, and assist teachers in developing the school grounds into an active outdoor classroom. The internship evolved into a full-time garden educator position, connecting teachers’ curriculum to hands-on garden activities in the growing months and cooking activities in the winter. This position, piloted under her leadership at Champlain Elementary, has expanded to become a model program across other schools in her district.

Aziz earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Humboldt State University in Acata, California. She earned her Master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainability from the University of Vermont (UVM). In 2022, she garnered the UVM Outstanding Teacher Award. Currently, Aziza is a participant in the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program, a program that is focused on creating international connections.