Category Archives: Education

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.

 

Remembering foreign languages teacher Barbara Edwards, who perished in Sept. 11 attacks

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Remembering foreign language educator Barbara Edwards, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo Credit:

Today, on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, we solemnly remember all who perished 23 years ago. One of those was foreign languages educator Barbara Edwards from Las Vegas, Nevada. She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. All 64 people on board and 125 others who were inside the building at the time perished.

Barbara taught courses in German and French at Palo Verde High School, where she had worked for four years. There Barbara built her German language program from one class to six. She also served as the adviser to the school’s International Club, and she was a passionate advocate for foreign travel. Prior to teaching in Las Vegas, she taught school in Indiana.

At the time of her death, Barbara was on leave from school, recovering from injuries sustained in a previous car accident. She had been traveling to Connecticut and Virginia to visit family and attend a friend’s wedding. She was aboard the plane for her return to Las Vegas.

Every year, students and staff at Palo Verde High School remember their beloved teacher in a solemn ceremony on campus. Members of Palo Verde’s Junior ROTC officiate the ceremony at a memorial built for the fallen educator on the soccer field. Barbara was an avid soccer fan, and spent many after-school hours watching the school team play their games on that field. In addition, a scholarship for foreign language students has been established in her honor.

To fellow teacher Patti Habermas, the outpouring of grief and support from students that followed Barbara’s death demonstrate that the things she does as a teacher really do matter. “I guess I never realized that as a teacher, I really do affect students’ lives,” observed Habermas. “It never dawned on me. I now look at every school year as a treat, and hope I’ll be able to make a difference on students,” Habermas concluded.

Barbara was born on April 5, 1948, in Frankfort, Germany. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to Michigan. In high school, she was a cheerleader and the runner-up for homecoming queen. Once she graduated from high school, Barbara earned her college degree at West Michigan University. She married, became the mother of three children, and launched her career as an educator in Bloomington, Indiana. Later she accepted the teaching position in Las Vegas. She was 58 years old when she died.

 

West Virginia educator Mary Doakes was a trailblazer in her community

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West Virginia educator Mary Doakes was a trailblazer in her community. Photo Credit: Eackles-Spencer & Norton

Many excellent educators become trailblazers in their community. One of these was Mary Taylor Doakes, a teacher who became the first African American administrator to serve in schools in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Mary Taylor was born on May 22, 1936, As a youngster, she attended the historic Page-Jackson School, the first publicly funded school for African Americans in the county. In those days, the school symbolized the ability to the Black community as a stepping stone for becoming successful during a time period when educating African Americans was discouraged. Today the building is home to the Jefferson County Board of Education.

After her high school graduation, she worked her way through college. First, she enrolled in a teacher training program at Storer College, a historically Black college located in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. After the college closed in 1955, she transferred to Shepherd College. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in 1957. She next enrolled in Michigan State University, later transferring to West Virginia University. It was there that she earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Administration in 1963.

After completing her education, Mary accepting a position as a teacher at Eagle Avenue Elementary School. After several years, she transferred to her alma mater, Page-Jackson school. In all, she spent 14 years in the classroom. In 1971, Mary was promoted to Assistant Principal at Charles Town Junior High School. In 1974, she became the first African American administrator in Jefferson County. Her next assignment was the principal of Charles Town Junior High, a position she held until she retired in 1989. Throughout her long career as an educator, Mary was known for combining loving encouragement with hard-as-nails discipline.

Sadly, Mary Doakes passed away on May 1, 2019, in Ranson, West Virginia. She was 82 years old. Later she was featured in a collection of photographs published in African Americans of Jefferson County by the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society.

IN visual arts educator Jonee Sutton earns prestigious honor

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Visual arts educator Jonee Sutton has been named one of ten top teachers in the state of Indiana. Photo Credit: Beech Grove City Schools

There are many fine visual arts educators who work in American schools. One of them is Jonee Adamson Sutton, who teaches in Beech Grove, Indiana. She has been named one of the top ten teachers in her state. The recognition highlights her unwavering dedication to her students and her outstanding contributions to the teaching profession.

Jonee teaches at Beech Grove Middle School in Beech Grove, Indiana. “Teaching middle school art is tough,” Jonee observes, “the attitude, the crazy, the loud, the lazy, but they are all on their way to becoming wonderful humans!” she says. Jonee has a reputation for nurturing creativity in her students, and for her commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. She is known for her iinnovative teaching methods and genuine care for her students that have left an impact on her community. She inspires both her colleagues and her students to strive for excellence.

One of Jonee’s innovative programs is her “brave” camp, which she organized In 2015. The program was designed to build self-esteem through the arts and empowerment through creativity. To fund the camp, the innovative teacher secured financial support from the Beech Grove Education Foundation, Beech Grove Middle School teacher Jonee Sutton was able to offer a “brave” camp to these girls.

Jonee earned her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts Education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2004. Her career as an educator spans 21 years. 

The Indiana Teacher of the Year program celebrates the teaching profession by recognizing teachers who excel in their field. “Becoming a teacher is a calling, driven by the desire to make a difference in the lives of students,” asserts Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “The small, everyday actions of teachers have a profound impact, which can be felt for weeks, months, and even years to come,” she continued.

Congratulations, Jonee!