Category Archives: Education

Teacher Lucy Tootell served in Rhode Island House of Reps

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Elementary and junior high school teacher Lucy Tootell served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Photo credit: Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

There are many fine classroom educators who have also served their communities in a variety of capacities. Some have even gone on to make excellent politicians. One of these is Lucy Tootell, an elementary and junior high school teacher who also served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Lucy was born November 27, 1911, in Jacksonville, Illinois. Her mother was a former dramatics arts director at Rhode Island State College, now known as the University of Rhode Island. Her father was Roy Willard Rawlings, the last Republican Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. She was two years old when her family moved to the state of Rhode Island. When she became a teenager, Lucy attended South Kingstown High School for three years, but she graduated with honors from Westerly High School in 1929.

After her high school graduation, Lucy earned her Bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Rhode Island College of Education in 1933. She inaugurated her career as an educator at Roger Williams Junior High School, and later taught at the Richmond Elementary School. Later Lucy attended law school at Boston University. She also attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City during the summer of 1934, and Northwestern University, where she was offered the directorship of their renowned children’s theater.

The indefatigable educator served her community in many capacities. She served as the curator and archivist of the Kingston Little Rest Museum. She was instrumental in establishing and organizing the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, the Richmond Historical Society, and the  the Charlestown Historical Society. In addition, she was a lecturer and an author of many local history publications, books, and slide shows. Lucy also served as Council Commissioner of the Rhode Island Girl Scout Organization. In 1970, she was elected to the Richmond School Committee and, in 1972, was elected on the Republican ticket to the Rhode Island House of Representatives from Chariho District #52, where she served from 1973 until 1977.

For her tireless work on behalf of Rhode Island, Lucy was named “Woman of the Year” by the Chariho Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1974.She also garnered the “John Nicholas Brown Award,” from The League of RI Historical Societies in 1982.
In 1997, in recognition of her distinguished achievements in the field of and preservation of history, Lucy earned an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Rhode Island. In 2013, she was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away on January 5, 2010. To read more about Lucy Tootell, see this post on the website for the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

Nellie Ramsey Leslie: Former slave, Freedman’s Bureau teacher

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Freedmen’s Bureau teacher Nellie Ramsey Leslie, a former slave, became a notable pianist, composer, and music educator. Photo credit: Public Domain.

There are many stories of remarkable educators in American history. One of them is the story of Nellie Ramsey Leslie, an emancipated slave who taught school for the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Nellie was born into slavery the 1840’s in Virginia. Once she was emancipated, she traveled north to Ohio, where she gained her education. She also attended the Normal School of Straight University in 1870-1871 to fine tune her instructional skills. The Normal School was founded by the American Missionary Association, which helped to prepare many teachers in the South to educate newly emancipated slaves and their children.

In late 1865, Nellie relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she became employed as an elementary school teacher for the Freedmen’s Bureau. She also taught in schools in Mississippi and Texas. In 1874, Nellie married Reverend R. A. Leslie, a Presbyterian minister and a Native American of the Creek Nation. In 1880, the couple moved to the Indian Territory, where Nellie taught in schools established to educate Creek Freedmen.

Over the course of her lifetime, Nellie established a reputation as a notable pianist, composer, and music educator. After her husband’s death in 1884, Nellie studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Later she relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, where she  founded a music conservatory for girls.

By 1895, Nellie was employed as a teacher and the principal of the Tallahassee Mission in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where she served as the music director for a number of years. The school served children of the Creek Nation.

This remarkable educator passed away in Muskogee during the 1920’s. The exact date and year of her passing is unknown. To read more about her, consult Notable Negro Women, Their Triumphs and Activities, by Monroe A . Majors, published in 1971. This book can be accessed online at Notable Negro Women.

California’s Bob Scheibel: Award-winning journalism educator

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Many exceptional educators earn accolades from their peers for their outstanding work. One of these was Bob Scheibel, an English and journalism educator from California. Photo credit: Pierce College Roundup.

Many exceptional classroom teachers earn accolades from their peers for their outstanding work. One of these was Bob Scheibel, an English and journalism teacher from  California.

Robert “Bob” Scheibel was born in Youngstown, Ohio. His family moved to Southern California when Bob was only three. When he was a teenager, he attended Hollywodd High School, where he graduated in 1944. By then, World War II was in full swing, and Bob enlisted in the US Navy. Once he completed basic training, he was deployed to the USS St. George, a seaplane tender assigned to the US operation in the Pacific Theater. While serving on that tender, Bob became involved in the Battle of Okinawa

Once he completed his tour of duty in the military, Bob returned to Southern California. He enrolled first in Los Angeles City College, then the University of Southern California, and then San Francisco Valley State College, later known as Cal State University, Northridge.

Bob inaugurated his career as an educator in 1952 when he accepted a position teaching English and journalism at Canoga Park High School. During his 17-year tenure there he advised the school newspaper, the school yearbook, the student government.

In 1969, Bob accepted a position as the journalism teacher at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Over the 20 years he taught there, he garnered many accolades. In 1981, he earned the Outstanding Journalism Educator Award, given to an educator at the junior college level. In 1983, Bob was named the National Two-Year College Distinguished Magazine Advisor by his fellow college media advisors, and in 1984, he was named California Community College Journalism Teacher of the Year by the California  News Publishers Association.

Additionally, Bob served as the President of the San Fernando Valley Press Club from 1971 to 1972). He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi (Society of Professional Journalists), and was elected President of the Journalism Association of of Community Colleges, Southern Section, a position he held from 1974 to 1975.

Bob Scheibel passed away from natural causes on October 27, 2020, in Woodland Hills, California. He was 94 years old. To read more about him, see this article published by the Pierce College Roundup.

Maine’s Cynthia Soule named her state’s Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher Cynthia Soule has been named Maine’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: University of Southern Maine.

I always enjoy sharing stories about educators who have earned recognition for their exceptional work in the classroom. One of these is Cynthia Soule, an elementary school teacher from Maine. She has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Cynthia teaches fourth grade at the Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland, Maine. In a career that has spanned 21 years, this Chalkboard Champion has worked with many of her community’s most diverse students. She has a reputation for fostering a dynamic learning environment, employing real-world projects that require observation, questioning, and collaborative thinking. She empowers her students to see themselves as meaningful contributors to their community. In her curriculum, she also emphasizes an appreciation for the natural world.

To enrich student learning, Cynthia has established partnerships with community organizations such as Bangor Savings Bank, Side X Side, Maine Audubon, and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. She is also a 2020 Funds for Teachers Fellow, and she is a recipient of Portland Education Foundation, TD Bank and DonorsChoose grants.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Cynthia serves as a representative on the Portland Schools Literacy Committee, the Talbot Leadership Team, the Building Steering Committee, the Response to Intervention Team, and the Science Team.

Cynthia’s recognition as Maine’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, is impressive. She has also been named the 2020 Cumberland County Teacher of the Year, and she has been nominated as a candidate for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Cynthia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maine at Orono. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Southern Maine.

To read more about Cynthia, see this profile of her published by CCSSO Teacher of the Year.

Mary Helen Garcia: Educator and member, New Mexico House of Reps

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Former educator Mary Helen Garcia also served in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Photo credit: Ballotpedia.

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who also become successful politicians. One of these is Mary Helen Garcia, an elementary school teacher and principal from New Mexico, who also served in her state’s House of Representatives.

Mary Helen was born on July 14, 1937, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1960 and her Master’s degree in 1976, both from New Mexico University.

Mary Helen worked as a teacher first at Gadsden Public Schools, where she was employed from 1960 to 1961. From 1967 to 1992 she taught in Las Cruces Public Schools. She served as the Directory of Instruction for Las Cruces schools from 1993 to 1999. She also served as an elementary school principal in Las Cruces from 1984 to 1993, and from 1999. She is now retired from the teaching profession.

In 1996, this hardworking educator was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in her state’s House of Representatives. She represented District 34 there from 1997 to 2015. While in the House, Mary Helen was the Chairwoman for the Committee on Voters and Elections; a member of the Appropriations and Finance Committee; and a member of the Committees for Education and Business and Industry. She has also served as the Chair of the New Mexico District Democratic Party from 1997 to the present time.

In addition to her professional and political responsibilities, Mary Helen is a member of the National Education Association, the International Association of Reading, the Association of Curriculum and Instruction, the Dona Ana Arts Council, and the Pan American Round Table.

To learn more about this amazing educator, see the article about her published on Ballotpedia.