Category Archives: Education

DC educator Sheri Frierson-Chenier garners PAEMST

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Washington DC educator Sheri Frierson-Chenier has garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo Credit: Sheri Frierson-Chenier

It is always a pleasure to share news about a fellow educator who has earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today I can share that Washington DC teacher Sheri Frierson-Chenier has garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Sheri, who is originally from Los Angeles, California, once revealed that becoming a teacher was her childhood dream. Her career as an educator has spanned 15 years. She inaugurated her work in the classroom at Glenn Dale Elementary School in Glenn Dale, Maryland, where she taught kindergarten for three years. She has also taught third grade. Currently she teaches fifth grade and works as a STEM Coordinator at Kimball Elementary School in Washington, DC, where she had been employed for the past 12 years. There she also advises student programs such as the Robotics Club, the Science Fair, the STEM Career Fair, and the STEM Expo.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Sheri chairs the school’s Personnel Committee, the Local School Advisory Team, and the Academic Leadership team. And as if all that were not enough, she was a Fellow of DC Teaching is Central to Learning (TCTL), a program which enabled her to engage  in professional development to understand the role of education policies and programs designed to improve teaching and learning.

Sheri’s PAEMST is not the only recognition she has earned. In 2018, she was a finalist for DC Public Schools Teacher of the Year, and in 2020, she was a finalist for the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education Teacher of the Year.

Sheri earned her Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Human Development in 2006, and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education in 2012, both from Howard University.

Maren Michelet: Teacher of Scandinavian culture and languages

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Educator Maren Michelet taught Scandinavian culture and languages in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo Credit: Public Domain

Many fine educators are well-known for sharing knowledge about their culture with their students. One of these was Maren Michelet, a teacher of Norwegian descent who promoted Scandinavian culture and languages in Minnesota’s public classrooms.

Maren was born on May 26, 1869, in Minneapolis. When she grew up, she became a teacher local schools. According to legend, she was the first teacher of Norwegian descent at South High School, located in what was then was the most Scandinavian neighborhood of the city. When she inaugurated her courses in Scandinavian languages, no textbooks and no curriculum guides available for the classes. She invented her own instructional strategies and tried a variety of strategies for engaging the interest of her students. She talked to them about the Viking period, discussed incidents in the history of Norway, and shared information about the nature of the land. She taught lessons about the country’s poets and assigned short Norwegian for the students to memorize.

Eventually, Maren authored materials to help with her instructional program. In 1914, she published First Year Norse, a Norwegian high school grammar textbook. In 1916, she published Glimpses from Agnes Mathilde Wergeland’s life, a translation of Glimt fra Agnes Mathilde Wergelands liv, the biography of Agnes Wergeland, a Norwegian American historian, poet, and educator, and the first woman to earn a doctorate in Norway. She also edited a version of Terje viken by Henry Ibsen. In addition, Maren made literary contributions to Norwegian and American newspapers and magazines.

In addition to these publications, this exceptional educator also served important roles in organizations that promoted the culture. In 1917 she served as an officer of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, and in 1923 she was elected the organization’s Education Secretary.

Maren Michelle passed away on Feb. 5, 1932. She was 62 years old.

Christian Wright-Sa’alea of American Samoa earns territory’s 2022 Teacher of the Year award

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High school social studies teacher Christian Wright-Sa’alea of American Samoa earns her territory’s 2022 Teacher of the Year award. Photo Credit: American Samoa Department of Education

I always enjoy sharing stories about outstanding educators who have earned honors for their work in the classroom. One of these is Christian Wright-Sa’alea, a high school Social Studies teacher from American Samoa. She has been named her territory’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Christian teaches history to freshmen, juniors, and seniors at Tafuna High School in Tafuna in the Western District.

Since 2016, Christian’s students have excelled in the National History Day (NHD) competition, earning top rankings locally and Outstanding Entry recognitions nationally. She was named a teacher representative at the 2018 NHD competition in Maryland, and a judge at the Louisiana State NHD competition in 2020. In addition, she was one of two representatives from American Samoa who were nominated for the MacGregor NHD History Teacher of the Year Award in 2020.

And these are not her only accomplishments. In 2018, Christian became a member of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the leading organization dedicated to K-12 education in American history. The organization recognized Christian their US Territories History Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Tafuna High School Principal Tutuila Togilau says he is not surprised that Christian has been selected for Teacher of the Year honors. “This is a reflection of Christian’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to lifelong learning,” asserts Togilau. “Christian is very creative, artistic, and highly respected by her colleagues,” the principal continued.

As for Christian, she credits her former teachers for her success in the classroom. “To all my former teachers, I am your product,” she declares. “I’m here because of you and I will continue that same cycle for my kids as well, with the hopes that in the future, they too will inspire others and become great citizens of tomorrow,” she concludes.

Robert Constantine: Teacher, master gardener, and tireless volunteer

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Retired social studies teacher Robert Constantine of Redlands, California, also served his community as a master gardener and tireless volunteer.  Photo Credit: Claremont Courier

Many superb educators also serve their community as tireless volunteers. One of these was retired social studies teacher and master gardener Robert Constantine of Redlands, California.

Robert was born on April 4, 1946, in Redland, California. Following his high school graduation in 1964, he attended University of Redlands from 1964 to 1968. While in college, he ran cross country and track and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Sigma fraternity. In his junior year, he was tapped for membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, a national honor society recognizing superior leadership and exemplary character. In his senior year, Robert garnered the Collis Steere Award, given to the senior athlete with the highest grade point average.

It was also at Redlands where Robert met classmate Peggy Rivers, who would become his wife of 52 years. Following graduation, both attended University of La Verne to earn their teaching credentials. After graduation from La Verne in 1969, the couple married and joined the Peace Corps. Together they served in Brazil from 1970 to 1972 in a program dedicated to planting gardens in elementary schools. During those years, he also taught English at the local high school.

Upon their return from Brazil, Robert accepted a position as a teacher in Pomona Unified Schools. After a stint in the US Air Force Reserves in 1972, he returned to teaching in 1973, this time in Covina. There he taught history and social studies for the Charter Oak Unified School District, where he taught both regular and International Baccalaureate courses. He also coached cross country, track, soccer, and basketball. His career there spanned 34 years. He retired in 2007.

Even in retirement, Robert remained active. He became a volunteer for the food pantry run by Inland Valley Hope Partners. He served on their board from 2013 to 2021, including two years as chairman. In addition, he helped facilitate the partnership between Hope Partners and Amy’s Farm, where he recruited, trained, and supervised volunteers. He also helped build the South Pomona Community Garden and supervised volunteers there. In 2015 the nonprofit recognized him with its highest honor, the Hope Partners Founders Award.

In 2017, the former educator became a Certified Master Gardner with the University of California. In this role, he was a member of the orchard team, taught Grow LA Victory Garden classes at Fairplex, and taught gardening in the master gardener booth at the LA County Fair.

Robert Constantine, teacher, master gardener, and tireless volunteer, passed away on March 11, 2022, from congestive heart failure.