Category Archives: Education

Francis Wayland Parker: Pioneer of the Progressive Movement in Education

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New Hampshire’s Francis Wayland Parker, educator and Civil War veteran, was a pioneer in the Progressive Movement in education.  Photo credit: Public Domain.

At the turn of the of the 20th century, one of the most celebrated pioneers of the Progressive Movement in education was Colonel Francis Wayland Parker of New Hampshire.

In a time when modern ideas were not popular, this innovative educator promoted a philosophy that education should not emphasize standardization, rote memorization, and isolated drill. Rather, he advocated a curriculum that addressed the development of the whole student, including the child’s intellectual, physical, and moral growth. He created a model program that was strong on language development and geared towards teaching students to think and make decisions independently. Today we would recognize his strategies as teaching critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving.

Francis Parker was born on October 9, 1837, in Bedford, New Hampshire. At the tender age of 16 he became the village teacher, and when the Civil War broke out seven years later, this young educator enlisted as a private in the 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Army. It wasn’t long before he was promoted to lieutenant, then to lieutenant colonel, and then to commander. In May, 1865, Colonel Parker was captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war in North Carolina.

When the war was over, this Civil War veteran resumed his teaching career, first as a classroom teacher, and then as a principal. In 1872, the continuously evolving educator traveled to Germany to study pedagogy at the Humboldt University of Berlin. When he returned, he became the coordinator of a highly-acclaimed teacher-training institution In Chicago, Illinois.

Colonel Parker is an American hero in so many ways, and is undoubtedly a Chalkboard Champion in the truest sense of the word. You can read more about this remarkable historical figure in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and Their Deeds of Valor, available from amazon.

Etta Schureman Jones: Teacher and WWII prisoner of war

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Etta Schureman Jones

Alaskan teacher Etta Schureman Jones spent WWII as a prisoner of war in Japan. Photo credit: Mary Breu.

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There are times when extraordinary circumstances of history present already gutsy teachers with unexpected challenges. This is certainly true of the intrepid Etta Schureman Jones, an elementary school teacher and trained nurse originally from Vineland, New Jersey.

Etta Schureman was over forty years old when she and her sister, Marie, ventured into Alaska Territory to teach Native American students in primitive rural schools. After one year, Marie  returned to the Lower 48, but Etta, who had met the love of her life and married, settled permanently in Alaska. The picture here is the happy couple on their wedding day.

Eighteen years later, Etta and her beloved husband, C. Foster Jones, were working together  in the remote Aleutian island of Attu when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Empire of Japan on December, 7, 1941, “a day that will live in infamy.” The couple and their students had been slated to be evacuated by the US Navy, but before that could be accomplished, the island was invaded by Japanese troops.

Although the couple were in their sixties, Japanese soldiers killed Foster and removed Etta to an internment camp in Japan, where she was incarcerated with a small group of Australian nurses who were also prisoners of war. The Attuan natives, about three dozen of them, were also taken to Japan, with the apparent intention of assimilating them into the Japanese population. Although Etta was rescued by American troops after the war, and she and the surviving Attuans were eventually repatriated after the war, Etta never saw her students or their families again.

I have included a chapter about this intrepid teacher and her intriguing tale of survival in my book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and their Deeds of Valor, available at amazon at this link: Chalkboard Heroes. Also, Etta’s story is told brilliantly by Mary Breu in her book Last Letters from Attu: The True Story of Etta Jones: Alaska Pioneer and Japanese POW.  A fascinating read, to be sure. You can find this book, also at amazon, at the following link: Last Letters from Attu.

Danielle Boutin: New Hampshire 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher Danielle Boutin of Nashua, New Hampshire, has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Nashua School District.

Congratulations are due to Danielle Boutin, an elementary school teacher from Nashua, New Hampshire. She has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Danielle teaches fifth grade at Ledge Street Elementary School. She works with English language learners and multicultural students. Her career as an educator has spanned 11 years.

“Danielle is an intelligent, caring, and talented educator who knows exactly what it takes to make a difference in the lives of students and families,” expressed Ledge Street Principal Chas Miller. “She is unparalleled in her ability to build strong, positive relationships and Danielle is always looking for new ways to innovate and grow as a teacher,” he continued.

This Chalkboard Champion also works hard to collaborate and advocate for the needs of her students at the school, district, and state level. Throughout her career, she has been an active member of several state ELL advisory committees.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Danielle strives to build a strong community support network which she can lean on to help her families with a variety of issues, including food and housing insecurity, domestic violence, and trauma.

The honored educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Humanities from the University of New Hampshire, Manchester. She earned her first Master’s degree in Education in Secondary English and a certificate in English Speakers of Other Languages, also from the University of New Hampshire, Manchester. In 2021, she earned a second Master’s degree from American College in Education, in Educational Leadership and Administration.

To learn more about Danielle Boutin, see this article about her published by the New Hampshire State Department of Education.

 

Bob Olivera: Reading specialist, coach, and Athletic Director

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The indefatigable Bob Olivera: reading specialist, physical education teacher, coach, and Athletic Director from Southern California. Photo credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

Many hardworking educators contribute much to their school communities, but every once in awhile you encounter one who is astonishing in his accomplishments. One of these is the indefatigable Bob Olivera, a reading specialist, physical education teacher, coach, and Athletics Director from Southern California.

Bob was born in Canton, Ohio, in 1941. As a young man, he attended schools in Canton, where he graduated in 1959. Two years later, he enlisted in the US Army. Once he completed his military service, Bob relocated to California and enrolled in college. He attended Chaffey College, where he earned his Associate of Arts degree in 1965. Next he enrolled at the University of LaVerne on a baseball scholarship. There, in 1968, he earned his Bachelor’s degree and his teaching credential. He earned a Master’s degree from the same university in 1970.

Bob inaugurated his career as an educator when he accepted a position as a reading specialist, speech, and p physical education teacher Alta Loma Junior High School in Alta Loma, California. He was employed there from 1968 to 1972. IN 1973, Bob worked at Montclair High School as a reading specialist. He also coached football, basketball, and baseball. Additionally, in the evenings, he taught courses in reading through Chaffey District Adult School. And as if all that wasn’t enough, he also worked as a coach and umpire through the Upland American Legion baseball program.

In 1979, Bob returned to Chaffey College to work as a reading specialist, and three years later, he took on the additional responsibility of serving as the school’s Athletic Director. With all that work, he still found the time to develop and implement a substance abuse program for athletes, and he conducted fundraisers to assist in financing the school’s various athletic programs. Through his efforts, he was able to raise enough money to pay for a new track, scoreboard, and athletic equipment.

In 1995, Bob developed and implanted the school’s annual Hall of Fame event to honor past athletes and service providers. He himself garnered the award in 2011. In addition, he earned the President’s Excellence Award for Meritorious Service for his outstanding contributions to Chaffey College. And to top it off, in 2003, Bob was named one of the 66 most influential people in his community.

Bob retired in 2009 after a career that spanned 41 years, 30 of them at Chaffey College. He passed away on June 13, 2021, at the age of 79. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see his obituary at Legacy.com.

Stephanie Marshall: Inducted into Illinois Hall of Fame

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Stephanie Marshall, a mathematics and science educator from Chicago, Illinois, has been inducted into the Illinois Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Stephanie Marshall.

I enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators. One of these is Stephanie Marshall, a mathematics and science educator from Chicago, Illinois. For her work in the field of education, she has been inducted into the Illinois Hall of Fame.

Stephanie was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. As a young girl, she attended East Meadow High School on Long Island, where she graduated in 1963.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Sociology from Queens College in Flushing, New York, in 1967. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum Philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1971. She completed the requirements for her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Industrial Relations from Loyola University of Chicago in 1983. In addition, she has garnered honorary degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University, Aurora University, and North Central College.

Stephanie taught elementary and junior high in Alsip, Illinois. In addition, she taught graduate courses at National Louis University. Later in her career, she served as the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Batavia Public School district 101. From 1983 to 1985, she served that school district as the Superintendent. She has also served as the President of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Stephanie’s career and life’s work has been dedicated to one guiding principle. “Learning must liberate the goodness and genius that resides within each child; and its design must ignite and nurture the power and creativity of the human spirit for the world,” she asserts.

For her work in the classroom, Stephanie has earned many accolades. She received the Order of Lincoln Laureate Award from the Governor of Illinois in 2005. The award is the highest honor that bestowed by the state of Illinois. In 2007, the former classroom teacher was inducted into the Illinois Hall of Fame.

To learn more about this amazing educator, see her website at Stephanie Pace Marshall.