Category Archives: Education

Teacher Anthony Gonzales garners 2022 Humanities Texas Award

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History teacher Anthony Gonzales from San Antonio, Texas, has garnered a 2022 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award. Photo Credit:

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work with young people. One of these is Anthony Gonzales, a history teacher from San Antonio, Texas. He has garnered a 2022 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award from Humanities Texas.

Anthony has been teaching history John Marshall High School in the Northside Independent School District for the past nine years. During these years, he created and inaugurated the Mexican American Studies (MAS) course, which offers the students the opportunity to study their own experiences and discuss topics they feel may be overlooked in a traditional history class, explains Anthony. “MAS students improve their critical thinking, analytical, and leadership skills because the course provides the opportunity to explore ideas relatable to those students,” he continues. The course is so popular that it has been expanded to other high schools throughout the state.

In addition to the MAS course, Anthony also runs a popular after-school program, the Mexican American Studies Student Association (MASSA), an enrichment program which explores the literature, art, music, current events, and cultural events of the Mexican American community. The participants even participate in community service projects.

And as if all this were not enough, Anthony serves his school as the faculty advisor for the Academic Decathlon team. Under his expert leadership, Marshall High has garnered five regional championships and placed in the top three in state-level competition twice.

The Humanities Award includes $5,000 for the honoree and an additional $1,000 for his school to purchase instructional materials.

STEM teacher Gertrude Clarke inducted into NJ Inventors Hall of Fame

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STEM teacher Dr. Gertrude Clarke was inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Newton STEM

Students throughout America are incredibly lucky to be taught by some of the most brilliant educators that our country has to offer. One of these is Dr. Gertrude M. Clarke, a high school STEM teacher was been inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame.

In 1954, Gertrude earned her Bachelor’s degree from Douglass College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She also completed courses in radiology at Rutgers University; electronics courses at the RCA Institute; chemistry and physics courses at Seton Hall University; and coursework in atomic, nuclear, and solid waste physics at the Yale University Graduate School. By 1987 the talented educator had earned her PhD from Rutgers University.

In the high school classroom, Gertrude taught STEM courses in basic science, physics, chemistry, and environmental science at Chatham High School, a public school located in Chatham, New Jersey. While teaching there, she also designed an Advanced Placement course in Nucleonics, a class that focused on aspects of nuclear physics.

For her excellent work in the classroom, Princeton University recognized her with Distinguished Secondary School Teaching in the State of New Jersey in 1978. In 1981, she garnered the Citation for Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from The National Science Teachers Association. In 1985, she was named a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

Gertrude keenly wanted K-12 students in New Jersey to be excited about science, and to recognize the relevance of science, mathematics, computer science, and technology in their lives. To achieve this goal, she founded the New Jersey Business, Industry, and Science Education Consortium. She served as the consortium’s Executive Director from 1981 to 1999. In addition, she served for 16 years on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame (NJIHF). After her retirement, Gertrude herself became an inductee into the NJIHF in 2011.

Sadly, Gertrude Clarke passed away on May 15, 2020. She was 88 years old. To read more about the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame, click on this link: NJinvent.org.

One-time teacher John Morehead once served as the Governor of Nebraska

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One-time teacher John Morehead also once served as the Governor of Nebraska. Photo Credit: Public Domain

Many excellent educators have also succeeded in political office. One of these is John Morehead, a country school teacher in Nebraska who also once served as the state’s governor.

John was born on Dec. 3, 1861, in Columbia, Iowa. As a boy, he was raised on an Iowa farm owned by his parents, who were pioneers, and he attended public schools. Later he attended the Shenandoah Business College. In 1884, when he was 22 years old, he moved to Nebraska, where he initially worked as a farmer. He also secured a teaching certificate and became a teacher in a local country school. He taught there for two years. Eventually, John changed careers when he established a mercantile business.

The former teacher inaugurated his career in politics when he was selected Treasurer for Nebraska’s Richardson County. He held this position from 1896 to 1899. He also served as Mayor of Falls City in 1900. Next he was elected a member, and later President, of the Nebraska State Senate, where he served from 1910 to 1912. As Senate President, John succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor, where he served from 1911 to 1912.

For his exemplary work as a politician, John earned the gubernatorial nomination of the Democratic Party. He was elected the 18th governor of the state in Nov.,  1912. He was re-elected in 1914. During John’s tenure, a workmen’s compensation law was enacted; the state deficit was reduced; the “blue sky” act was authorized; several appointments were made to the first Board of Control; and the first state budget was instituted.

After completing his term, John left office, but he continued to stay active in politics. He served as a member of the US House of Representatives, where he represented Nebraska’s 1st District from 1923 to 1935, a total of six terms. In 1940, he was selected to be a delegate to the 1940 Democratic National Convention.

Governor John Morehead passed away on May 30, 1942, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was 80 years old. He was buried in the Steele Cemetery in Falls City, Nebraska. Read more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion and politician at National Governors Association.

Teacher Katie Hall: First African American woman from Indiana elected to US House of Reps

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Former social studies teacher Katie Hall was the first African American woman to be elected from Indiana to serve in the US House of Representatives. Photo credit: Public Domain

A successful career in the classroom can prepare an individual for success as a politician. One teacher who proved this to be true was Katie Hall, a social studies teacher from Indiana who was the first African American woman to be elected from Indiana to serve in the US House of Representatives.

Katie was born on April 3, 1938, in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. As a young girl, she attended public schools in her home town. After her high school graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, in 1960. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1968. She inaugurated her career as an educator when she accepted a position as a social studies teacher in a public school in Gary, Indiana. She worked as a teacher in the district until 2004.

Katie served as the Chairwoman of the Lake County Democratic Committee from 1978 to 1980, and the Chairwoman of the 1980 Indiana Democratic Convention. She launched her own career in politics when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Indiana State House of Representatives, where she represented the 5th District from 1974 to 1976. Next, she was elected to the Indiana State Senate, where she represented the 3rd District from 1976 to 1982.

Then Katie was elected to the US House of Representatives, where she represented Indiana’s 1st District from 1982 to 1985. She was the first African American woman from Indiana to be elected to the US Congress. While in office, Katie sponsored legislation to make the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a national holiday. Pres. Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983. Katie also concentrated on issues related to education, labor, and women’s issues, and she became involved in the fight to alleviate famine in Africa after witnessing widespread suffering during a Congressional trip to northern Ethiopia. The former teacher also supported a variety of measures designed to bring jobs and better opportunities to her urban, industrial district, and to direct federal resources to help families struggling with debt, bankruptcy, and addiction.

Sadly, Katie Hall contracted heart disease and passed away on Feb. 20, 2012, in Gary, Indiana. She was 73 years old.