Category Archives: Education

Author Terry Lee Marzell addresses AAUW

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Author Terry Lee Marzell addresses the Glendora chapter of the American Association of University Women at Glendora Public Library on Sat., Nov. 13. Photo credit: Hal Marzell.

Many, many thanks to the Glendora chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The group invited me to speak about the two books I authored to recognize the achievements of remarkable American teachers. The event took place at the Glendora Public Library, in Glendora, California, on Sat., Nov. 13, at 10:00 am.

The AAUW is such a wonderful organization. Though nonpartisan, the AAUW champions a number of important causes. For example, they work to remove the barriers and biases that stand in the way of gender equity and, they champion equal opportunities in education for women.

Learn more about the AAUW, click on this link to their website: https://www.aauw.org.

 

Kristi Reinke named North Dakota’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to Kristi Reinke, a social studies teacher at Jim Hill Middle School in Minot, North Dakota, who has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Minot Daily News.

Congratulations are due to educator Kristi Reinke, a middle school social studies teacher from North Dakota, who has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Kristi teaches geography and Social Studies to seventh graders at Jim Hill Middle School in Minot, North Dakota. In a career spanning 16 years, she has taught 15 of them at Jim Hill. In all, she has spent seven years of her career in special education and seven years in general education. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked as an education support professional working with at-risk students.

Kristi is well-respected among her students. “She’s really opened my eyes to wanting to learn more,” remarked student Erin McLean. “School is not the most favorite thing for people, but she made it one of my favorite classes,” she said. And the inspiration the honored teacher generates goes beyond her students. “She keeps me young and innovated,” declares colleague Pete Sternberg. “She’s always doing new things. One of the things that I want to do, that she does regularly, is skyping people from all over the world,” he continued. Principal Mike Arlien agrees. “Her unbridled compassion and enthusiasm in the classroom is what makes the magic happen. You just can’t fake that,” he remarked.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Kristi is involved in school leadership, the Superintendent Advisory Committee, and the Minot Public Schools Safety Committee. She is also a student council advisor. And, as if all that were not enough, she is active in her local teachers’ union. She serves as an executive officer of the Minot Education Association and is an active member of North Dakota United.

her current honor is not the only one Kristi has earned. For her outstanding work on behalf of students and teachers, Kristi was named the 2019-2020 Minot Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

Kristi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a second Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, and her Master’s degree in Special Education, all at Minot State University.

Teacher Carlton Jenkins previously served in US Army

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Carlton Jenkins, a sixth-grade history teacher from Woodbridge, Virginia, served as a helicopter pilot in the US Army prior to becoming an educator. Photo credit: US Army Troops to Teachers.

Many fine educators have also served their country in the military. One of these is Carlton Jenkins, a sixth-grade history teacher from Woodbridge, Virginia, who previously served in the United States Army.

While in the military, Carlton flew a helicopter and worked as a helicopter pilot instructor. “It was there that I gained a passion for teaching and helping others to achieve their goals,” claims Carlton. “I have also had the opportunity to travel extensively and live in other countries, which has helped me grow as a person and learn more about the world around us,” he says. After he retired from the military, Carlton cast his eyes about for another way to serve his country. He found it in the classroom.

Since 2013, Carlton has taught sixth-grade American history at Lake Ridge Middle School in Woodbridge, Virginia. It was the Troops to Teachers program that helped him make the transition from uniformed pilot to grade school history teacher. “Troops to Teachers … gave me the opportunity to use the leadership skills, knowledge, and experience I learned and developed in the Army to help me have a positive effect on today’s students,” Jenkins says. “For those seeking a second career in education as a teacher, the Troops to Teachers program will help get you there,” he advises.

Carlton says his success as a teacher depends first on him setting a framework of rules and expectations. “A teacher must establish his or her expectations with rules,” he asserts. “I have only three rules: respect one another, follow the Golden Rule, and only one person speaks at a time in class,” he reveals.

To read more about Carlton, see this story published by the US Army.

Veteran and educator Darren Rainey is devoted to students

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US  veteran and educator Darren Rainey taught high school Language Arts in Delaware after he left the military. He continues to make his mark on the field of education. Photo credit: Teach for America

There are many fine educators who came to the classroom after serving our country in the military. One of these is Darren Rainey, a Language Arts teacher and Athletic Director in Wilmington, Delaware.

Darren deployed with the 4th Squadron, 9th US Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division to Afghanistan in 2013 and to the Republic of Korea in 2015. “I learned some of my toughest leadership lessons through deployments, rotations, and training exercises in this unit,” says Darren. “It was here where I learned the importance of leading through relationships and respecting an individual’s unique experiences.”

When Darren concluded his military career In 2017, he decided to become an educator. He served as the Athletic Director Director and taught Language Arts at the 8th, 9th, and 11th grade level at Freire Charter School in Wilmington, Delaware. “In the classroom, nothing is more rewarding than when a student has that ‘ah-ha’ moment during a lesson or when a kid who is usually quiet has that breakout moment in a class discussion,” asserts Darren.

Currently, Darren serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. He also works as an Adjunct Professor on the Delaware campus of  the Relay Graduate School of Education. In addition, he serves as an Impact Leader with Profound Gentlemen, Inc., an organization that builds communities of male educators of color who provide a profound additional impact on the communities they serve.

Darren was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Hampton University for his undergraduate studies and earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education.

To learn more about Darren, click on this link to an article he wrote published by Teach for America.