Category Archives: Education

SD math teacher Nichole Bowman earns Milken Educator Award

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Nichole Bowman, a high school math teacher in Pierre, South Dakota, has earned a prestigious Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Pierre School District.

It is always a pleasure for me to share stories about talented educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Nichole Bowman, a high school school math teacher from South Dakota who has earned a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2021-2022.

Nichole’s career as an educator has spanned a total of 15 years, all of them in South Dakota. She currently teaches Geometry, Algebra, and Algebra II at all grade levels at TF Riggs High School in Pierre. Previously she taught at Georgia Morse Middle School in Pierre, and she has also taught at schools in Rapid City and Kimball.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Nichole has worked for the South Dakota Department of Education (SDDOE) on reviewing and revising state content standards in math. She has also led workshops that share best practices for math teachers. She has also worked on a committee that explores policies that address the needs of the district’s diverse population.

Nichole’s work with her students goes well beyond the pedagogy. “I start by making sure they know it’s not just about math. It’s about them—about their education and how they learn, and what they know they are capable of,” she declares. “Half the battle as a math teacher, and probably any educator, is making them believe that they can do it. I really let them keep their own pace. I introduce a topic. Then, it’s really on them,” she continues. “They work in teams—three brains are better than one—and they work together, and they communicate. Communication is a big one,” Nichole concludes.

The Milken Award is not the only recognition Nichole has earned. Just last month, Nichole was selected Pierre School District 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Nichole is a native of Armour. After her high school graduation in 2003, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, with a Specialty in Mathematics, in 2007 from Northern State University in Aberdeen.

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 award 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 whose work strengthens best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Elem teacher Carri Hicks serves in the Oklahoma State Senate

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Former elementary school teacher Carri Hicks now serves in the Oklahoma State Senate. Photo credit: The Oklahoman

Many excellent educators also earn acclaim in the political arena. One of these is Carri Hicks, an elementary school teacher who currently serves in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Carri earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Political Science from Oklahoma City University (OCU). She earned a Master’s degree in Leadership Management and a second Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, both from Capella University.

Once she earned her degrees in 2011, Carri accepted a position as an elementary school teacher in the Putnam City School District. After three years of teaching kindergarten at Tulakes Elementary, she transferred to the Deer Creek School District, where she taught first grade for two years and fourth grade math. She then taught science for two years at Grove Valley Elementary. During these years, Carri also served as a site representative for the Oklahoma Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union.

Outside of the classroom, Carri has worked as an adjunct professor at OCU, where she instructed courses in the College of Education. She has also earned recognition for her work as an educator. In the summer of 2019, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame designated her as a Fellow of the Gaylord McCasland Education. Her work with that organization was to reshape the museum experience for young learners. She has also been named the CEO of Rainbow Fleet, a nonprofit located in Oklahoma City that supports early childhood education and quality child care.

In November, 2018, Carri was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Oklahoma’s 40th District. There she serves on the Committees for Education; Health & Human Services; Transportation; and Finance. Her focus in the legislature has been to restore decades of budget cuts to public education, improve access to health care, and address the state’s massive labor shortage.

Teacher and Civil Rights activist Idella Jones Childs

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Teacher and Civil Rights activist Idella Jones Childs was named to the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame

Many dedicated educators also work towards improving society as a whole. One of these was Idella Jones Childs, an elementary school teacher from Alabama who made a significant contribution to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

Idella was born on June 21, 1903, in Perry County, Alabama. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University, and her teaching certificate from Lincoln Normal School. She inaugurated her career as an educator when she accepted a position to teach algebra, biology, social studies, and history in segregated Perry County schools. Her career as an educator there spanned the next  35 years.

All her life, this amazing teacher was a tireless advocate for the equality and dignity of all people. During the Civil Rights Movement, she even volunteered her home in Marion to be a meeting place for activists.

In 1982, Idella founded the Perry County Arts and Humanities Council, an organization which provided the children of her rural county with a variety of cultural experiences. She was also a member of the Perry County Retired Teachers Association, the Girl Scouts, the Marion Perry County Library Board, the Alabama Black Heritage Council.

As if all that were not enough, in 1985, she was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Marion City Council, the first African American woman to serve on that entity. She was 79 years old at the time. In the next election, she was elected in her own right to continue in the position.

For her work in the classroom, the community, and the Civil Rights Movement, Idella earned many accolades. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter named her an honorary member of the National Commission on the International Year of the Child. In 1993, when NASA was commemorating the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, she earned their Unsung Heroes Award. In addition, in her name, the Alabama Historical Commission’s Black Heritage Council distributes an annual award known as the Idella Childs Distinguished Service Award. The honor “recognizes people who have contributed to the preservation of African American historic places.” She was also inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002.

Idella Jones Childs passed away at the age of 85 on August 8, 1998, in the county where she had spent so many years as a teacher. She is buried at Marion Cemetery in Marion in Perry County, Alabama.

Former elem teacher Mary C. Willis rose to rank of Brigadier General in US Army

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Former elementary school teacher Mary C. Willis joined the US Army and, in a career that spanned 30 years, rose through the ranks to Brigadier General. Photo Credit: Public Domain

It is not unusual for a fine educator to excel in fields outside of the classroom. One who did was Mary C. Willis, an elementary school teacher who became Brigadier General in the United States Army.

Mary was born on Jan. 31, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland. Following her graduation from Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Maryland, she enrolled at St. Mary’s Seminary College, where she studied for two years, graduating in 1959. Next Mary attended Salisbury State Teachers’ College, now known as Salisbury University, where she earned her degree in 1962. Later she earned a Master’s degree from Shippensburg University, a public university located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Once she earned her degrees, Mary accepted a position as a second grade teacher at North Salisbury Elementary School in the Wicomico County Public School System. She worked there for one year.

In 1963, Mary entered the US Army, which inaugurated a career in the military that spanned 30 years. During her years of service, Mary served in Virginia, Korea, Illinois, Missouri, Alabama, and Germany. Her final post was at the Pentagon, where she worked with White House Chief of Staff Colin Powell. Ultimately, the former teacher rose through the ranks to the position of Brigadier General.

During this career, Mary became the first female Army officer administrator at the US Military Academy at West Point. While there, she successfully integrated women cadets into the school in 1976, and also served as a vocal advocate for the integration and fair treatment of women at all ranks and levels of the US Army.

For her military service, Mary earned many accolades. She earned three Army Commendation Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Overseas Service Ribbons, an Army Service Ribbon, a Far East Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.

Following her retirement in 1993, Mary worked for two years with the National Guard in Washington, DC, and then in 1995, she accepted a position at Salisbury University, where she was awarded an honorary PH.D. Today, at age 82, Mary is still going strong.

 

Alaska teacher Jason Daniels garners prestigious PAEMST

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Elementary school teacher Jason Daniels of Soldotna, Alaska, garnered a 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo Credit: Jason Daniels

It is always exciting when a member of the professional community earns recognition for their work in the classroom. Jason Daniels, an elementary school teacher from Soldotna, Alaska, has earned such recognition. In 2020, he garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2020.

Jason teaches at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School in Soldotna. In fact, he has spent his entire career of 23 years there, teaching third through sixth grades. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Jason taught remote classes for grades four through six for families in no less than three local elementary schools.

Whether teaching in person or online, Jason’s focus on his students is obvious. He uses an inquiry-based approach to learning, encouraging his students to observe phenomena in the natural world, which brings the learning to life and makes it relevant to their own lives.

The honored teacher extends his expertise beyond his elementary classroom. Since 2018, Jason has spent his summers teaching STEM to underprivileged youth at Upstream Academy. In addition, he has led professional development workshops, and a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade science teacher collaboration. Since 2014, Jason has participated in collaborations to write, review, and adopt new state science standards. In fact, in 2021, Jason co-presented the new state science standards to teachers all over Alaska, and he assisted in the review of the state pilot science assessment. Furthermore, he has been on several district curriculum committees, and currently serves on the 2021-2022 Science Curriculum Committee. And as if all this were not enough, he has been a master teacher for three pre-service teachers.

The PAEMST is not the only prestigious recognition Jason has earned. In 2012, he traveled to Wodonga, Australia, where he taught for one year as a Victorian International Teaching Fellow.

Jason earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a his Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the University of Alaska. He is a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist.

Good work, Jason!