Category Archives: Education

Retired teacher Winona Mullis served in US Navy during WWII

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On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, I am reminded that many educators are also veterans. For example, retired teacher Winona Mullis served her country as a WAVE in the US Navy during World War II. Photo credit: USNI News

During those days when our nation is honoring our veterans—days like today, when we observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day—I am reminded that many classroom teachers have also served our country in the military. One of these is Winona Mullins, a 100-year-old retired teacher who is also a veteran of World War II.

Winona grew up in Seward, Pennsylvania, but she was a freshman in college at Indiana State Teachers College when Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7,1941. The unprovoked attack resulted in the US entry in World War II. When the young woman returned home for summer break, typists and stenographers were in great demand, and Winona was one among many who answered the call.

In 1943, the college co-ed joined the US Navy as a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). There she trained as a codebreaker at IBM headquarters in New York City. For the next 27 months, Winona served her country as a Specialist I 3rd Class.

Although her job was on the mainland, Winona had to go through basic Navy training just like any sailor. She learned to march at the WAVES basic training site at Hunter College in New York City. She studied ship terminology, and toured a variety of different ships to learn how each one functioned.

After her training at IBM’s Madison Avenue headquarters was completed, Winona shipped out to a base in Bremerton, Washington, located on Puget Sound. She remembers seeing ships with battle damage, some with holes due to torpedoes, she says. And she also remembers the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the base to address the soldiers.

At the end of WWII, Winona secured the base and closed all the offices. That was in March, 1946. She returned to college in Ohio to complete her formal education, and she became a teacher. She taught for many years in the Detroit area, and then relocated to Greenwich, Connecticut, about an hour north from where she first boarded the train to start her naval career, to teach. In all, her career as an educator spanned 39 years before her retirement.

Even in retirement, Winona has been an active member of her community, volunteering to teach English as a second language, tutoring from her home and at the Greenwich Senior Center and at a local church. In addition, she has worked many blood drives, served as a member of the Representative Town Meeting for a decade, and tabulated absentee ballots for her local registrar of voters.

What an amazing woman! To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to USNI News.

Teacher Myra Winkler first woman elected to office in El Paso County, Texas

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High school teacher Myra Winkler became the first woman to hold elected office in El Paso County Texas. Photo credit: El Paso Herald

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an educator who broke barriers for women in our nation’s history. One of these was Myra Winkler, a high school teacher who was the first woman to hold elected office in El Paso County, Texas.

Myra was born on April 2, 1880, in Corsicana, Texas. Her father was one of the first judges on the Texas State Court of Appeals. Her mother was an ardent collector of Confederate artifacts.

As a young woman, Myra earned her Bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston Teachers’ College. Once she earned her degree, she moved to El Paso in 1902. There she taught Social Studies at several public schools, including El Paso High School. In 1945, she continued with her education, earning her Master’s degree from North Texas State College.

By 1912, Myra was elected Superintendent of El Paso County Schools, becoming the first woman elected to public office in the county. In fact, she was one of eight women who were elected to the office of superintendent throughout the state during that year. While in office, Myra sought to improve salaries for teachers, extend the school year, and establish domestic science programs for girls, and organize agricultural study and training for boys. She served in that position for ten years, retiring from the position in 1922. In 1923, Myra became an Adjunct Professor of history and economics at the University of Texas, El Paso. She was the second woman to teach on the faculty at that school.

During her lifetime, Myra became a member of several organizations. She belonged to the Retired Teachers Association, the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and the Harmony Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.

Sadly, Myra passed away at. her home in El Paso on Aug. 21, 1963. She was 83 years old. After her death, Myra Winkler County School near Fort Bliss was named in her honor.

 

Kentucky’s Shane Green garners prestigious Milken Educator Award

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Elementary school teacher Shane Baker of Bowling Green, Kentucky, haas garnered a prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

There are many exceptional teachers working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Shane Baker, an elementary school teacher from Bowling Green, Kansas. He has garnered a prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award.

Shane teaches third grade at Jennings Creek Elementary School in Warren County. He has a reputation for creating a warm, welcoming place for students of all abilities, and at a school with a high rate of poverty and a significant number of students who do not speak English as a first language.

This teacher obviously enjoys working with his students from diverse backgrounds. “I get to come to work and I get to interact with kids who come from families from all over the world. It’s such a unique environment that you just can’t get in very many other places,” he declares. “It’s a wonderful feeling to see kids who come from different backgrounds or to see kids who look like me because I didn’t get that experience growing up,” he continues.

In addition, Shane serves as an EdTech Ambassador for his school district. In this role, he incorporates technology into his project-based learning curriculum, adjusting for each student’s unique needs throughout the school year. In fact, in his classroom Shane employs green screens for presentations, creates animated stories, utilizes coding to create 3D printer projects, and incorporates digital tools into multimedia discussions.

Shane earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University in 2017. He is currently working on his Master’s degree in teacher leadership.

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 Milken Educator Awards.

Colorado middle school teacher one of seven finalists for her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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Colorado middle school teacher Ivy Dalley was named one of seven finalists for her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Ivy Dalley

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Today I shine the spotlight on Ivy Dalley, a middle school teacher from Mancos, Colorado. She was named one of seven finalists for her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Ivy teaches English and Social Studies to sixth graders at Mancos Middle School in the Mancos School District. The District serves a rural area in southwestern Colorado. She says sixth grade is the perfect age group for her. “We all know how awkward it can be at that time in our lives,” she explains. “I think I just really connect to middle schoolers and I connect to the way they think and learn,” she continues. “I want to show up every day and make sure they feel like someone cares about them and somebody’s on their team to help them realize the potential they all have inside of them,” she concludes.

This exceptional educator works hard to create positive educational change in her school. She has worked with students, staff, parents, and community members to develop and implement numerous district and community-wide programs, including the Buddies program, PBL carts, Positive Behavior Intervention Systems rewards, and a board member of Mancos United, an organization that arranges sixth-grade transition retreats. For these efforts, Ivy was named as one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

As a youngster, Ivy grew up in a small dairy town in Wisconsin. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College in Durango. She earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. She has worked in the Mancos School District for nine years.