Category Archives: Education
Acclaimed author Crystal Hana Kim is a Teach for America alumnus
Acclaimed author Crystal Hana Kim, a Teach for America alumnus, has taught writing at the elementary, high school, and college levels. Photo credit: Crystal Hana Kim
There are many excellent classroom teachers who have earned recognition in fields outside of the classroom. One of these is Crystal Kim, a published novelist who has taught writing at the elementary, high school, and college levels.
Kim was born in Queens, New York, in 1987, the daughter of immigrates from South Korea. As a young child, she often returned to South Korea every summer to spend time with extended family. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2009 and Master’s degree in Fine Arts in 014, both from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Education from Hunter College in 2011.
Crystal came to the classroom through the Teach for America (TFA) program. TFA is a nonprofit organization who says their mission is to “enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation’s most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence.” The organization accomplishes this by recruiting college graduates to serve as teachers in public schools. Those selected commit to teaching for at least two years in a public or public charter K–12 school in one of the 52 low-income communities that the organization serves.
Crystal published her first novel, If You Leave Me, in 2018. The book was named a Best Book of 2018 by The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Literary Hub, and the ALA Booklist. In fact, her work was so well-received that she was named a National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Honoree in 2022. The honor recognizes debut fiction writers whose work is predicted to leave a lasting impression on the literary landscape. Crystal was also named a 2021 Jerome Hill Artist Finalist and a 2017 PEN America/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize winner. She has received scholarships from Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Jentel, and Hedgebrook. Her work has been published in Elle Magazine, The Paris Review, Guernica, and elsewhere. Additionally, she is a contributing editor at Apogee Journal.
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Dr. Erick Hueck inducted into 20223 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame
Florida science teacher Dr. Erick Hueck has just been inducted into the 2023 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Photo credit: NTHF
I enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Dr. Erick Hueck, a science teacher from Miami, Florida. Erick is one of five educators nationwide who have been inducted into the 2023 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF).
Erick’s career as an educator spans 34 years. Currently, he teaches Chemistry and Advanced Placement Chemistry to freshmen through seniors at Miami Senior High School in Miami. In previous years, he taught Biology, Earth Space, Physical Science, and General Science there. In addition, for 32 years the honored teacher has served as the advisor for his school’s chapter of the National Beta Honor Society. In addition to his work in the classroom, Erick serves as the President of the Dade County Science Teachers’ Association.
As a result of years of professional experience, Erick can offer some sage advice for his colleagues. “You must have passion at the core of your intent,” he asserts, “understand that there will be good days and bad days, continue to learn and evolve; take care of yourself and listen to the voice inside your head, you are only as good as you feel.”
Erick’s induction in the NTHF is not the only recognition he has earned. In 2013 he was named the Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Florida Association of Science Teachers. The next year, he garnered the Phebe and Zephaniah Swift More Teaching Award from Amherst College. In 2022, Erick was named the NEA California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, and that same year he earned the Yale Educator Award.
A 1983 graduate of Columbine High School in Colorado, Erick continued his education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry in 1987. He earned his Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Miami in 1990, and his PHD in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2009.
The National Teachers Hall of Fame was founded in 1989 in Emporia, Kansas, to honor outstanding educators through a recognition program and museum. Nominees must be certificated public or non-public school teachers, active or retired, with at least 20 years of experience in teaching grades preK-12. Since the inaugural induction ceremonies in 1992, 145 educators from 40 states and the District of Columbia have been inducted. To learn more about the program, click on this link to the NTHF.
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AZ teacher Nancy Gutierrez serves in her state’s House of Reps
High school teacher Nancy Gutierrez represents her community in Tucson, Arizona, in her state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Nancy Gutierrez
Many accomplished classroom teachers also serve their communities in political office. One of these is Nancy Gutierrez, a high school teacher from Arizona who has been elected to her state’s House of Representatives.
Nancy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Northern Arizona University in 1994. Once she earned her degree, she inaugurated her career as a teacher in Paradise Valley and Sierra Vista. She has taught at all grade levels, including preschool, elementary, high school, and community college. In 2013, she landed at Tucson High Magnet School. Nancy earned her 500-hour yoga certificate, and for the past five years she has been teaching yoga classes at the school, where she also serves as the Chair of the Physical Education Department. In addition, she is a member of the school’s Safety Committee.
Nancy is no stranger to leadership positions. In 2010, she was elected President of the Manzanita Elementary School Family Faculty Organization. In 2017, she served on the Board of the Tucson chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), and in 2018, she was elected president of the group. She is a member of the Tucson Education Association and the Arizona Education Association. She also has experience as a Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross.
In 2022, Nancy was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 18 in the Arizona House of Representatives. She was sworn into office on Jan. 9, 2023. Her term will expire on Jan. 13, 2025. There she serves on the Committees for Education; Appropriations; Regulatory Affairs; Government; and Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.
“My passion is education,” declares Nancy. She has made it her mission to increase spending for education in her state. “Arizona is notorious for spending the least amount possible on public education,” she notes. “In turn, we spend among the least amount per pupil, have one of the lowest median teacher salary structures in the country and we have schools that are literally crumbling.” Nancy is advocating exhaustively for allocating funding to make sorely needed repairs on classrooms, improve security measures on every campus, ensure that every classroom has working air conditioning, replace out-of-date textbooks, and increase teacher salaries.
Learn more about Nancy Gutierrez click here to check out her legislative website.
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Nebraska Special Education teacher Lisa Moody garners Milken Award
Special Education teacher Lisa Moody from Omaha, Nebraska, has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Norfolk Daily News
There are many exceptional teachers working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Lisa Moody, an elementary school Special Education teacher from Omaha, Nebraska. She has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award.
Lisa teaches K-6 Special Education at Jefferson Elementary in Omaha. She works tirelessly to build innovative supports for her students. For example, she developed and instituted a hybrid inclusive education program when her school faced a shortage of special education teachers. The program mainstreams students enrolled in Lisa’s Alternate Curriculum Program into general education classrooms. There the students learn social skills in the classroom while still working with Lisa on academic subjects and life skills. The program has now expanded to several schools in her district. Jefferson school Principal Jennifer Schlapia noted that she has seen “amazing results” from the program and that the students involved in the program have met significant goals.
In addition to her work with students, Lisa conducts professional development at her school site. At the district level, she is an intensive teacher mentor, and she is a member of a committee that promotes equity in special education practices.
Lisa earned her Bachelor’s in Speech and Language Pathology Education in 2009 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education in 2011 from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, and a second Master’s in Education with Certification in Early Childhood and English as a Second Language in 2022 from Creighton University.
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 this honor, click on Milken Educator Awards.
