Category Archives: Education

New York STEM teacher Kimberly Lau garners 2022 Sloan Award

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New York City teacher Kimberly Lau has garnered a 2022 Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science & Math. Photo credit: The Midwood Argus

I always enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Kimberly Lau, a STEM teacher from New York. She has been named a recipient of the 2022 Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science & Math.

The Sloan Awards recognize the exceptional work of educators in New York City public high schools. The awards cast a spotlight on educators who achieve superb results while inspiring youth to excel in science and mathematics and pursue careers in related fields. Kimberly is one of seven New York educators who have been honored this year.

Kimberly teaches Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Ocean Science, and Culinary Science courses at Midwood High School. Midwood is a public high school located on the campus of Brooklyn College. The school partners with the college to offer courses in Advanced Placement in three main programs: Medical Science, Humanities, and Liberal Arts.

It just so happens that Midwood is Kimberly’s high school alma mater. After seeing the dedication of her teachers when she was in school, she knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps. After her graduation from college, she substituted at Midwood, and in 2013 she was offered a permanent position teaching chemistry.

Kimberly is well-liked and highly-respected among her students. “I learned a great deal about science in the classes I took with Ms. Lau,” expresses former Midwood student Alyssa Kattan. “But she also taught me so much more, including how to aim high.” Student Faith Matthew agrees. “When we make a mistake, Mrs. Lau doesn’t correct us in a way that’s discouraging,” Faith declares. “She does it in a way that makes us want to do better next time. So every time I’m in one of her classes, I always see a linear increase of how well I do because she makes me want to try harder,” Faith continues.

In addition to her selection for a Sloan Award, Kimberly also garnered the Sidney Millman Award in 2021. Since 2017, she has also served as a Master Teacher for Math for America.

 

Erin Oban, a former ND math teacher, appointed her state’s Director for Rural Development

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Former North Dakota math teacher Erin Oban now serves as the State Director for her state’s office of USDA Rural Development after previously serving in the ND State Seante. Photo Credit: US Dept. of Agriculture

Many gifted classroom teachers also make excellent lawmakers. One example of this is Erin Oban, a former junior high school math teacher who has been appointed the State Director for the office of USDA Rural Development. Previously, she served in the North Dakota State Senate.

Erin was born July 25, 1982, in Ray, North Dakota. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education at the University of Mary. After her college graduation, she accepted a position as a mathematics and technology teacher at Cathedral School in Bismarck, North Dakota. There she had a reputation among her 7th and 8th grade students for being genuine, hardworking, and kind. “I think one of her most admirable qualities is her authentic support. I never felt uncomfortable asking a question or embarrassed to speak up, because she always made me feel like my contribution to the class was important and appreciated,” remembered former student Danielle Finn. “Most importantly, (Mrs.) Oban took the time to listen to me whenever I wanted to be heard. She would come early to answer questions and stay late for those who needed help. She truly wanted all of her students to succeed, not just at school, but also in life,” Danielle concluded.

In 2014, Erin was elected to the North Dakota State Senate on the Democratic ticket to represent the 35th District. She served there from Dec. 1, 2014, to March 27, 2022. While in the Senate, her interest in matters relating to education did not decrease. The former classroom teacher served on the Education Committee, the Agriculture Committee, the Judicial Committee, and the Committee for Employee Benefits Programs. She also served as the Chairman of the Education Policy Committee and, from 2021 to 2022, as the Assistant Minority Leader and a member of the Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Education Coordination Council. In addition to her legislative role, Erin worked as the Executive Director of Tobacco Free North Dakota, a nonprofit organization. She helped pass a bill banning e-cigarette sales to minors.

Erin resigned from the North Dakota State Senate when President Joe Biden appointed her State Director for her state’s office of USDA Rural Development. Her employment there began March 28, 2022. There she will oversee operations that support economic development and that offers programs, loans, grants, and technical assistance for rural residents, communities, and organizations.

 

Middle school teacher Helen Riehle served in Vermont Senate and House

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Former middle school teacher Helen Riehle also served in both the Vermont Senate and House of Representatives. Photo Credit: SupportVTDigger

Many fine educators have also served as capable politicians. This is true of Helen Riehle, a former middle school teacher from Vermont who also served as a member of both her state’s Senate and House of Representatives.

Helen was born on May 5, 1950, in Somerville, New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont in 1972. After earning her degree, Helen worked as a middle school teacher from 1975 to 1985.

In 1992, Helen was elected on the Republican ticked to the Vermont House of Representatives. She served there from Jan. 1983 through Jan. 1993. She also served in the Vermont State Senate where she represented most of Chittenden County from Jan. 1993 through Jan. 2001. She then took on the role of Chair of South Burlington City Council, a position which she held until she was appointed by Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin to serve in the State Senate a second time. During her second stint there, which spanned the dates of March of 2016 through Jan. of 2017, she filled the seat of Diane Snelling who left the position to head the Green Mountain State’s Natural Resources Board. As a legislator, Helen chaired the committees for Health and Welfare; Administrative Rules; and Health Access in both the House and Senate.

In addition to her work as a politician, Helen has experience as the Executive Director of the Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in St. Albans and as the Executive Director of the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care. She has also been active on numerous non-profit and higher education boards in the Chittenden County region, including University of Vermont, Burlington College, and Vermont Public Television.

Today, Helen lives in Burlington, Vermont. She is 72 years old.

B. F. Bowles: Educator and leader of the African American community

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Educator Benjamin Franklin Bowles earned a place in history as a leader of the African American community. Photo Credit: The St. Louis Globe-Democrat Magazine

I always enjoy sharing stories about dedicated educators who have also earned a place in history for their work as a leader of the African American community. One of these is Benjamin Franklin (B.F.) Bowles, a teacher and principal from Missouri.

B. F. was born on April 3,1869, on a farm near Cooperville in Pike County, Ohio. As a young man, he attended Wilberforce University, a private university in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he earned his degree in 1905.

After he earned his degree, B. F. relocated to Illinois, where he taught for six years in elementary schools in both DuQuoin and Metropolis. Next, he accepted a position as the principal of Lincoln High School in East St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked from 1896 to 1914. He also instructed courses at Lincoln University, a historically African American college located in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Like so many Black leaders of his day, B. F. worked to improve the lives of his community. In 1921, the Chalkboard Champion signed a petition circulated by the NAACP in support of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill. Also, to increase opportunities for education for Black students, B. F. founded Douglass University in 1926 to offer education opportunities to Black students in segregated St. Louis. The institution offered degrees in education, law, medicine, engineering, architecture, public administration, liberal arts, fine arts, and more. B. F. operated the school until the late 1920’s, when he was compelled to turn over the leadership of the school because of declining health. Despite a change in leadership, the school remained open intermittently for two decades.

B.F. spent his entire life supporting teachers. He was a life member of the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools. He was also a member of the St. Clair County Teachers’ Association and the East St. Louis Teachers’ Association. In addition, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the University Club of St. Louis.

B. F. was also an accomplished musician and composer. He could play any brass instrument from the cornet to the tuba. In fact, he authored a book on the subject: The Musician’s Manual: Technics of the Brass Instrument.

Sadly, Benjamin Franklin Bowles—educator, Black community leader, and musician—passed away on Sept. 29, 1928. He was only 59 years old. He is interred in Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Normandy, Missouri.

 

Cherie Bonder Goldman garners 2022 Georgia State Teacher of the Year honors, yet education is her second career

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Elementary teacher Cherie Bonder Goldman of Savannah, Georgia, has been named her state’s 2022  Teacher of the Year. Yet teaching is a second career for the honored educator. Photo Credit: The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Many excellent educators come to the classroom years after establishing successful careers in the private sector. One of these is Cherie Bonder Goldman, an elementary school teacher in Georgia who originally worked in the advertising industry. Teaching may be Cherie’s second career, but clearly education is her calling. She is so good at the job that she has garnered the title of 2022 Georgia State Teacher of the Year!

Cherie was born to a Jewish family in New York and was raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Georgetown University in 1993, and her Master’s degree in East Asian studies from Stanford University in 1995. Originally her goal was to become a Japanese language teacher. Unfortunately, jobs in that field were scarce, and so she accepted a position in advertising, first working on the Toyota account at Saatchi & Saatchi, and then working on the Clorox account at DDB Worldwide Communications Group.

Despite her success in the corporate world, deep down inside Cherie knew she belonged in the classroom. After she moved to Savannah, Georgia, she enrolled at Armstrong Atlantic State University, where she earned her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She also completed coursework to become an Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership from Mercer University in 2019.

Cherie launched her career as an educator when she accepted a position with Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, first at White Bluff Elementary, and then at Hesse K-8 School, where she has taught for the last 12 years. She currently teaches English to Speakers of Other Languages.

“I always strive to make content personally relevant so students never ask, ‘What’s the point?'” declares Cherie. for example, “In math, we design dream homes, calculating area for carpet and perimeter for fencing. In writing, we pen letters to the principal supporting or disagreeing with school uniforms so students understand the exponential power of well-articulated opinions,” she says. “When students connect content to their world, education transcends the classroom,” Cherie concludes.

At Hesse, in addition to her work int he classroom, Cherie serves on the Leadership Team and chairs the Schoolwide Writing Team. She has also served as a grade level-lead, the Site-based Induction Specialist, the Professional Learning Liaison, and a School Council member.

For her exemplary work in the classroom, Cherie has garnered honors as the 2022 Georgia State Teacher of the Year. In this role, she has chaired a task force established to investigate the root causes of teacher burnout and to make actionable suggestions for improvement to state and local policy makers.