Category Archives: Education

Remembering teacher and coach Scott Beigel, slain in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High shooting

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We remember Florida teacher and coach Scott Beigel, who was slain in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Photo credit: runnersworld.com

The community of professional educators is always distressed by the loss of a colleague to campus violence. This is certainly true about Scott Beigel, a teacher and coach who was slain in a school shooting that occurred in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2018.

After earning his Bachelor’s degree in technical Studies from Farmingdale State College, New York, in 2009, Scott moved to Parkland, Florida, where he accepted a position teaching geography at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He also coached the school’s cross country team. In addition, on his summer vacations Scott worked as a counselor at Starlight Summer Camp in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. During the shooting, Scott is credited for saving the lives of students by unlocking his door and letting students inside the classroom to hide. Unfortunately, the heroic teacher could not escape the gunman, Nikolas Cruz, an expelled student from the high school. Scott, who was only 35 years old at the time of his passing, was one of 17 people fatally wounded by Cruz that day.

Since his tragic passing, Scott is sorely missed. “Thousands of people at Camp Starlight looked up to Scott,” asserted Grant Williams, a summer camp colleague. “He was someone you strive to be like.” Student Thomas Risley agreed. “He cared a lot about his students,” Risley remembers. “I’m going to miss his colorful personality.” Former Douglas High student Cameron Kasky also praised the fallen educator. “Scott’s memory lives in the fact that he was able to positively touch the lives of so many young people,” Kasky remarked. After the attack, Kasky became a student leader in the March for Our Lives gun-control movement.

To honor Scot’s sacrifice, his name has been inscribed on the National Memorial to Fallen Educators sponsored by the National Teachers Hall of Fame located in Emporia, Kansas. A street has also been renamed Scott J. Beigel Way in the Dix Hills area of Long Island, New York, where Scott grew up.

 

WV’s Heather Haught earns prestigious Milken Award

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Elementary school teacher Heather Haught of West Virginia has earned a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Award. Photo Credit: West Virginia Education Association

I always enjoy sharing stories about talented educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Heather Haught, an elementary school teacher from Moundsville, West Virginia, who has earned a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Award.

Heather teaches first grade at McNinch Primary School in Moundsville. Her instructional strategies emphasize research-based curriculum, differentiated instruction, problem-based lessons, higher-level thinking skills, and a collaborative environment.

“Heather Haught is a sterling example of compassion and commitment, said W. Clayton Burch, West Virginia’s Superintendent of Schools. “She is committed to fostering a strong foundation of learning among her first grade students at McNinch Primary School and illustrates such compassion as she engages families in the education of their children,” he continued. “She not only adopts research-based practices into her instruction plans, but she also shares her innovations and approaches with other teachers in her school and county to advance teaching and learning beyond her own classroom. We are proud of her leadership and the depth of her commitment to the children and families of her community,” he concluded.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Heather serves on or leads various school and district committees, including teams handling math, textbook selection, positive behavior support, safety, and hiring. She also conducts professional development programs for the district. And as if all that were not enough, she also instructs college education courses at both West Virginia University and Bethany College.

Heather earned her Bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from West Virginia University in 2009 from West Virginia University. She earned Master’s degrees in Elementary Education in 2009 and Reading in 2010 from the same institution, and she completed the coursework for her Administrative Certificate from Wheeling University in 2019.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Heather is one of up to 60 educators to receive the Milken Educator Award for the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Retired teacher Joseph Miro served in the Delaware House of Reps

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Retired Spanish teacher Joseph Miro also served in the Delaware State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: open states.org

It should be no surprise that very often remarkable educators branch out into other spheres of endeavor. Such is the case with veteran teacher Joseph Miro, who served nearly 20 years in the Delaware State House of Representatives.

Joseph Miro was born on July 15, 1946, in Matanzas, Cuba. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 13, one of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children who fled the Communist regime of Fidel Castro between 1960 and 1962 as a part of Operation Pedro Pan.

He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 1970 from Lincoln University, and immediately accepted a position as a Spanish teacher in the Wilmington School District in Wilmington, Delaware. Later he transferred to the Christina School District, also in Wilmington, where he taught Spanish at Newark High School. He completed his Master’s degree at West Chester University in 1975. After a thirty-year career, Joseph retired from the teaching profession in 2001.

Multi-talented, in 1998 Joseph was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the 22nd District in the Delaware State House of Representatives, where he served until 2018. The Cuban American served there as a member of the Legislative Committees for Education; Appropriations; Health and Human Development; and Joint Finance. Prior to his election to the State House of Representatives, Joseph served on New Castle County Council from 1992 to 1998.

English teacher Nathan Anderson serves in Nevada State Assembly

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High school English teacher Natha Anderson also serves in the Nevada State Assembly. Photo Credit: votenatha.com

Many hardworking educators also make successful politicians. One example of this is Natha Anderson, a Nevada English teacher who also serves in her state’s Assembly.

Natha was born in 1972 in Reno, Nevada. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Once she earned her degree, Natha worked as a high school English teacher. She inaugurated her career at her alma mater, Edward C. Reed High School located in Sparks, Nevada, and later moved on to Vaughn Middle School in Reno. She also became part of the opening staff of North Valleys High School in Reno. In the two decades Natha has worked as an educator, she has taught English, Advanced Placement English, and Leadership.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Natha has served as the President of the Washoe Education Association. She has also completed stints as a local Director of the National Education Association, a Board Member of the Nevada State Education Association, as a member of the Board of Directors for Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, and as a Board Member of the WCSD Education Alliance.

In 2020, Natha was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 30th District in the Nevada State Assembly. She assumed office on Nov. 4, 2020. Her current term ends on Nov. 9, 2022. In the State Legislature, she serves on three committees: Government Affairs, Natural Resources, and Revenue. In addition, she vigorously advocates for public education, pushing for more funding for educators and working as a strong advocate for building and repairing schools. Other issues that are important to Natha are mental health care, criminal justice reform, and climate change.

To learn more about this remarkable teacher and legislator, see her website at VoteNatha.com.

Elem teacher Crystal Doi of Hawaii garners prestigious 2022 PAEMST award 

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Elementary school teacher Crystal Doi of Hawaii has garnered a prestigious 2022 PAEMST award. Photo Credit: Lifechanger.com

I always enjoy sharing stories about fine educators who have earned honors for their work in the classroom. One of these is Crystal Doi, an elementary school teacher from Hawaii who has garnered a prestigious 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Currently, Crystal is teaching sixth grade math and science at Kapunahala Elementary School in the Windward School District. Before that, she coordinated the science curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Nu’uanu Elementary School in the Honolulu District. Prior to that, she taught sixth graders at Nu’uanu Elementary School in the Honolulu District, at Lili’uokalani Elementary School, and at Nimitz Elementary School. In all, her career as an educator has spanned 15 years.

Crystal has been instrumental in developing STEM instruction in her school and in her district. She was a participant in a district-wide science program called RIP-ing Through Science. While in the program, she authored a chapter in a book called “Look at Us Now!: Making Scientific Practices Matter in the Classroom… and Beyond.” She also co-authored a presentation delivered during the NSTA 2010 National Conference of Science Education.

And as if all that were not enough, Crystal was the teacher-coordinator for her school’s Gardening and Nutrition Program entitled ‘Aina in Schools. The curriculum for this program covers sustainability, nutrition, cooperation, and agriculture —traditional and modern.  She worked with outside agencies and nonprofit groups to acquire needed materials and manpower to construct planter boxes, have soil delivered to school to fill the boxes, have the students plant various types of produce, and have the students maintain and watch these plants and vegetables grow. Then the students harvested the plants and vegetables, cooked them, and consumed what was grown.

Crystal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu and her Associate of Arts from Kapi’olani Community College. She earned her license in Early Childhood Eduction from Hawaii Teachers Standards Board. She has also completed the requirements for certifications for STEM and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, both for kindergarten through sixth grade.

Well done, Crystal!