Category Archives: Education

Amos Bronson Alcott: Progressive educator, philosopher, and reformer

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Amos Bronson Alcott was a supporter of the Progressive Movement in the early 19th century. Many of his practices are commonly implemented in schools today. Photo credit: National Park Service

In the early 19th century, the Progressive Movement was responsible for great changes in the field of education. One progressive educator from this period was Amos Bronson Alcott, a teacher, philosopher, and reformer from Connecticut.

Amos was born in 1799 in Wolcott, New Haven County, Connecticut, the self-educated son of a farmer. When he grew to manhood, he became a prominent proponent of the Transcendentalists, a philosophical movement that emphasized the value of nature and the inherent goodness of people.

Even as a young man, Amos was interested in a career as a teacher. He disliked the rote memorization, lecture, and drill so prevalent in the schools of his day. Instead, he focused on the students’ personal experiences, advocated a more conversational style of interaction with pupils, and avoided traditional corporal punishments. He was one of the very first teachers to introduce art, music, nature study, and physical education into his curriculum. He engaged his students in Socratic dialogue to bring their ideas to the forefront. He treated children as adults, and would allow the class to address disciplinary problems as a group.

In 1834, Amos founded a “progressive school,” the Temple School in Boston. Under great skepticism and criticism almost from the start, the school still managed to stayed open for six years. Eventually it was closed, not because of its unorthodox methods, but because Amos, an ardent abolitionist, had enrolled an African American girl in the predominantly white school.

In 1859, Amos returned to Connecticut, where he was appointed the superintendent of Concord Public Schools. There he revamped the curriculum by introducing calisthenics, singing, and physiology. He insisted that his teachers use the Socratic method in their classrooms. He also established the first parent-teacher association. His work inspired later educational reformers. In fact, many of his practices are commonly implemented in schools today.

Amos was also an advocate for women’s rights. This remarkable Chalkboard Champion is probably best known, however, for being the father of Louisa May Alcott, the author of the classic American novel Little Women.

Amos Bronson Alcott passed away from natural causes in 1888. To read more about him, click on this link to the National Park Service.

Kindergarten teacher Connie Hall named Nevada’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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Kindergarten teacher Connie Hall of Sparks, Nevada, has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Nevada State Department of Education

Our country’s kindergarten kids are truly fortunate to have so many dedicated and compassionate teachers in their lives. Teachers such as Connie Hall, an educator from Sparks, Nevada. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Connie teaches at Lloyd Diedrichsen Elementary School. She says her primary goal is to build meaningful relationships with not only her students, but also everyone in the school community, including parents and colleagues. In a career that spans 29 years, she has taught children from nursery school to third grade.

Connie is well-respected by those who work on her campus. “Mrs. Hall is a passionate educator who puts her students first,” says Ryan Doetch, principal of Diedrichsen Elementary. “She is motivated by student success and is dedicated to creating lasting relationships with every child,” he continued.

The honored teacher has even garnered national attention for her work. Her classroom was filmed and featured in articles for several district and national projects. One project demonstrated her culturally responsive classroom for teacher training in her district. In addition, Connie’s class was one of five classrooms chosen nationally to be featured in The New Teacher Project Room to Run project. The intent of the program was to show what kids can accomplish with challenging, inspiring schoolwork.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Connie serves on her school’s Leadership Team, and she is a member of the Washoe County Early Childhood Advisory Council.

Her award as Nevada’s Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition Connie has earned. She was named the 2019 Certified Employee of the Year for the Washoe County School District, and she has received two certificates of commendation from Nevada state Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

Connie earned a Bachelor’s degree in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Oakwood University. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Common Core State Standards from Concordia University. She has been teaching since 1994.

To read more about Connie Hall, click on this link to Pacific Union Conference.

 

Retired music teacher Beth Herrington honored with life-size bronze statue

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Retired music teacher Beth Herrington of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, has been honored by her town with a life-sized bronze statue in recognition of her contributions to education and her community. Photo credit: Tahlequah Daily Press

There are many fine educators who serve not only their students, but also their entire community. One of these is Beth Herrington, a retired music teacher from Tahlequa, Oklahoma. And her town is immensely grateful to her! She has been honored with a life-sized bronze statue to show their thanks.

Beth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequa, Oklahoma, and her Master’s degree in Music at George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee. She also completed post-master’s work at the University of Tulsa and completed additional courses in Organ Performance from the University of Arkansas.

Before her retirement, Beth taught elementary and secondary music for 48 years in Tahlequah Public Schools. She also taught continuing education music classes at NSU. Furthermore, she traveled throughout Oklahoma to conduct professional development on best methods for music instruction.

In addition to music, one of Beth’s passions is history. “In my day, a classical education included history, literature, music, and art, and the diversity in the world. That was a classical education, so I’ve always been interested in history,” recalls Beth. In fact, she has authored three books and numerous articles that have been published in journals of music, history, and geneology. One of Beth’s books is Tahlequah Facts and Folklore. The volume describes the history of education in her area, including information about the first teachers in the town. In addition, Beth serves as the current Chair of the City of Tahlequah Historic Board.

Beth is also passionate about helping up-and-coming educators. She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), a prestigious professional organization that promotes the professional success of women educators. In fact, she served two years as the President of the Oklahoma Gamma Beta Chapter. She has served as Oklahoma State Organization president, the parliamentarian, and other offices at the state level. In addition, Beth has served DKG by helping to organize international conferences and conventions.

For her service to education and to her community, the town of Tahlequah has honored Beth with a street named in her honor and a life-sized bronze statue. In addition, she has garnered other awards, including the Tahlequah Public Schools Teacher of the Year (twice,) the Kiwanis Member Service Award, the Soroptimist Member Service Award, and the Tahlequah First Baptist Church Member Service Award.

Former teacher Carolyn Comitta now serves as Pennsylvania legislator

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Former teacher Carolyn Comitta has served her community in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania State Senate. Photo credit: Comitta Official Senate Website

Many fine educators also make accomplished politicians. One of these is Carolyn Comitta, a teacher who has served in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Carolyn was born in Buffalo, New York, but relocated to Pennsylvania as a toddler. When she grew up, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1974. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1989. From 1974 to the 1985, Carolyn worked in the Octorara Area School District as a classroom teacher and as a curriculum specialist in special and gifted education.

After leaving the classroom, Carolyn worked in her husband’s business, Thomas Comitta Associates, Town Planners and Landscape Architects. And then she inaugurated her career in public office when she ran for and was elected to the West Chester Borough Council. She served in that role from 2006 to 2010. Then, in 2010, she became the first woman to be elected mayor of West Chester, where she served from 2010 to 2017.

Following her service as mayor, Carolyn was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. She represented the 156th District from Jan. 3, 2017 to Nov. 30, 2022. She has served in the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the 19th District since Jan. 56, 2021. In the Senate, she serves as Minority Chair of the Agriculture & Environmental Resources. She is also a member of the committees for Education; Aging & Older Adult Services; Health & Human Services; and Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness.

Today, Carolyn is an active member of World Information Transfer, a nonprofit United Nations non-governmental organization focused on educating people and communities about the connection between the environment and public health. She is also actively involved in several community organizations, including the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of West Chester, and the League of Women Voters. In addition, she has served on various boards at her alma mater, West Chester University.