Category Archives: Education

Teacher Abby Hemenway a pioneer in publishing

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Abby Hemenway, who once taught school in Michigan, earned acclaim as an author and pioneering publisher of local histories. Photo Credit: Public Domain

Abby Hemenway, a 19th-century educator in Michigan, earned acclaim as an author and pioneering publisher of local histories. Because of her efforts, the concept of history as a social science became universally accepted.

Abby was born on Oct. 7, 1828, in Ludlow, Vermont. After her graduation from Black River Academy, she relocated to Michigan in 1853, where she became a teacher. After teaching for three years, she returned to Vermont, where she explored an interest in writing and publishing. In 1858 the former teacher published a volume of poems written by Green Mountain State writers entitled Poets and Poetry of Vermont. The volume enjoyed so much success that Abby founded a new publication, the Vermont Historical Gazetteer, with the goal of publishing a local history for every city and hamlet in her state.

Before Abby’s day, the customary topics for publishing involved biographies of famous military and political men, and stories about the historical events in which they took part. Abby pioneered the practice of chronicling everyday activities of average citizens, rather than focusing only on prominent individuals and events. She published these stories in her Gazetteer.

After 30 years of hard work, six volumes of her Gazetteer were published, all between the years of 1860 and 1892. These volumes include local histories of 13 of the 14 counties in Vermont. The only county not included is Windsor County. The Gazetteer is still used today as the primary resource for 18th and 19th-century Vermont state history. The volumes include valuable information such as the names and terms of service for local office holders, genealogical information for early Caucasian residents, and the names and terms of service for local clergy.

Abby accomplished her goals in a period of time when women were expected to marry and raise families. In fact, she was frequently told that “history is not suitable work for a woman.” Nevertheless, she persevered, despite considerable adversity. Because of her pioneering efforts, the concept of history as a social science is now universally accepted.

Sadly, on Feb., 24, 1890, Abby Hemenway passed away in Chicago, Illinois, after suffering a stroke. She was 61 years old. This Chalkboard Champion’s story is explored more fully in a 2001 biography entitled The Passion of Abby Maria Hemenway by Deborah Picman Clifford.

 

Teacher Mary Edly-Allen also served in the Illinois State House of Reps

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Mary Edly-Allen, an English as a Second Language teacher from Illinois, also served in her state’s House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Mary Edly-Allen

Many fine educators have also shown expertise in the political field. One of them is Mary Edly-Allen, a teacher from Illinois who has also served in her state’s House of Representatives.

When Mary decided to become an educator, she was following the lead of a good role model. Her mother was an educator. Her father was a maintenance worker and Korean War Navy veteran. As a young woman, Mary earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Northeastern Illinois University in 1993 and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with Bilingual Certification from National Louis University in 2017.

For the past 17 years, Mary has worked as an English Second Language teacher in the Grayslake Public School District, working primarily with young children of immigrant families. In addition, she is the co-founder of an educational non-profit, Foundation46, and she is a founding member of the Community Consolidated School District 46 Diversity Committee. Furthermore, Mary has been involved for many years with Illinois Science Olympiad as a coach, and she serves on its Board of Directors. She is active in many Lake County community organizations.

In 2018, Mary was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Illinois State House of Representatives. There she represented the 51st District from 2019 to 2021. While in the House, she was a member of the committees for Elementary & Secondary Education School Curriculum Policies; Adoption & Child Welfare;  Mental Health; Human Services; State Government Administration; and Energy & Environment. During her years in the legislature, Mary worked to restore vocational and technical education courses in high schools. She was also a champion for diverse communities.

Science teacher Elsbeth Kroeber actively countered class, race prejudice during “Nazi years”

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Early 20th-century science teacher and administrator Elsbeth Kroeber authored a textbook that actively countered class and race prejudice during the “Nazi years.” Photo Credit: Midwood High School

I always enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned acclaim for their work in the classroom. One of these is Elise Elsbeth Kroeber, an early 20th-century science teacher who authored a general biology curriculum that during her time was widely-used throughout New York Public Schools.

Elise, who preferred to be called Elsbeth, was born Nov. 28, 1882, in Manhattan, New York. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1903 from Columbia University. She also studied at Barnard. After earning her degree, Elsbeth worked for many years as a biology teacher.

While teaching, Elsbeth saw the need to vastly update the curriculum for general biology courses, known as the Kroeber Curriculum. In addition to her work in the classroom, Elsbeth completed a great deal of technical writing and editing. She co-authored the biology textbook Adventures of Living Things, which was widely used in high school biology classes. When it was published in 1938, the textbook was viewed as an innovative approach to biology. The volume was one of the first in a wave of biology textbooks published during the “Nazi years” that actively countered class and race prejudice and sought to dispel a popular and institutional approval for the scientifically erroneous and immoral theory of eugenics.

Before her retirement in 1954, Elsbeth worked as an Assistant Principal at Midwood High School in Brooklyn. In what were supposed to be her Golden Years, she served as a supervisor and board member for eh Schools Volunteer Program of the Pubic Education Association, a program providing tutors for disadvantaged students in New York City. She also developed and supervised professional development inservice for teachers who wished to become department chairs.

In addition to her professional work, this Chalkboard Champion was a member of the American Biological Institute and the National Association of Biology Teachers, that she speaks German conversationally, that she has a secondary specialty in microbiology and immunology, that her salary is between $7,000-$8,000/year and that in addition to teaching, she does technical writing or editing.

Elise Elsbeth Kroeber passed away in Dec. 3, 1969. She was 87 years old. Since her passing, the New York Biology Teachers Association awards a graduating New York City senior with its Elsbeth Kroeber Memorial Award in her honor.

 

NM teacher Silvia Miranda earns prestigious PAEMST Award

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New Mexico educator Silvia Miranda has garnered a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo Credit: PAEMST

Congratulations to New Mexico educator Silvia Miranda, who has garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This prestigious award honors the dedication, hard work, and important role that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers.

Silvia currently works with kindergarteners through second graders at Mesa Elementary School and James Bickley Elementary School in Clovis, New Mexico. In her classroom, Silvia sets high standards for herself and her students. In her curriculum, she emphasizes whole brain strategies, a growth mindset philosophy, interest-based learning, and data-driven instruction.

During the pandemic, when her students were told they could not use the school playground for safety reasons, Silvia designed a lesson that asked her students to plan a playground that would allow for social distancing, using their newly-acquired multiplication and division skills to compute areas and to stay within a budget. In another lesson, she established a weather station and led her students in discovery learning about the links between water and weather and life. As part of that lesson, her students became “weather pals” with students in Africa, where they talked about wells and water issues.

In addition to her work in her school, Silvia is a Khan Academy Ambassador and a Statistics in our Schools Ambassador. She has served as a Clovis Municipal Schools Teacher Leader since 2018, was a state ambassador for the NM Teacher Leader Network for two years, and served on the state Secretary’s Teacher Advisory.

For her work as an educator, Silvia has earned many accolades. She is a 2020 NSTA Teacher Awards finalist, a 2018 Milken Educator Award recipient, was Clovis Teacher of the Year in 2018, and was a NM Teacher of the Year finalist. She has been awarded many grants for STEM education.

Silvia earned her Bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Elementary Education from Eastern New Mexico University. She earned her Master’s degree, summa cum laude, in Education Literacy from Wayland Baptist University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher for early and middle childhood literacy, and she is certified in kindergarten through eighth grade elementary education with an endorsement in bilingual education.

Retired music educator and Idaho politician Jerry Shively

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Retired music educator Jerry Shively also served his community as an elected member of the Idaho State House of Representatives. Pictured here with his wife, Ann. Photo Credit: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Idaho Falls

Many fine classroom teachers have also served their community in public office. One of these was Jerry Shively, a high school music teacher who also served a two-year term in the Idaho House State of Representatives.

Jerry earned both his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Idaho. Once he earned his degrees, Jerry taught music at first Idaho Falls High School and then Skyline High School. Later he accepted a position as the music coordinator of the Idaho Falls School System #91. After he retired from teaching, Jerry worked as a member of the staff of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls.

In 2007, Jerry was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Idaho’s 33rd District in the Idaho State House of Representatives. He served there from 2008 to 2010.

In addition to his political work, Jerry was involved in numerous community organizations. He served as the President of the Idaho Music Educators Association from 1990 to 1992. He served as the President of both the Idaho Falls Arts Council and the Idaho Falls Rotary. He was also a Board member of the Idaho Falls Opera Theatre, The Idaho Falls Symphony, and Idaho Falls Community Concerts. Furthermore, he served as the Idaho Representative of the Arts Northwest Board.