Category Archives: Education

Mary Miranda Knight of Washington state: A true pioneer

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Mary Miranda Knight of Washington state was a true pioneer. She served as the Superintendent of Schools in Mason County. Photo credit: William Knight.

Many intrepid pioneers in American history were also talented educators. One of these was Mary Miranda Knight, a teacher who earned accolades as an innovative teacher in the state of Washington.

Mary was born on Sept. 2, 1854, in Ingham County in southern Michigan. She was one of seven children born to immigrants from Scotland. During her youth, her parents moved from Michigan to Dakota, and then to Washington State.

Mary was just a high school student when she declared her intention to become a teacher. She was 16 years old when she realized her dream and stood in front of her first classroom. Originally, she taught in Eaton Falls, Michigan, next in Huron, Dakota, and later in the cities of Shelton and Bellingham in Washington State. Her career as an educator spanned the years from 1870 to 1921, a total of 51 years.

In 1900, the talented teacher was elected to serve as the Superintendent of Schools in Mason County, Washington. She served in this position for 18 years. During her tenure, Mary worked diligently to consolidate the five small school districts along the Western border of Mason County. Mary believed that one large school district could offer students greater educational opportunities than five small school districts could. The new school district was built in 1924, and was named Mary M. Knight School District #311 in her honor.

For her work in Washington schools, Mary was recognized with a school named in her after her, the Mary M. Knight High School. The school was built in the unincorporated area of Matlock, Washington.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on Jan. 31, 1940, in Seattle, following a lengthy illness. She was 86 years old. To learn more about her, see this online biography entitled Mary M Knight School District 311.

 

New York teacher Ntina Paleos-Stemas succumbs to Covid-19

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Sadly, beloved New York English teacher Ntina Paleos-Stemas succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 30, 2021. Photo credit: www.liherald.com.

Sadly, we report that yet another beloved educator has succumbed to Covid-19. Ntina Paleos-Stemas, a high school Enbglish teacher from New York, succumbed to the disease on January 30, 2021. She was 55 years old.

Ntina was originally from Greece, but she was raised in Baldwin, New York. As a young girl, she graduated from Baldwin High School. Ntina discovered her passion for teaching at schools in Switzerland and Argentina. She then accepted a teaching position in the Hewlitt-Woodmere Public School District in 1998. In that district, she taught first at the Franklin Early Childhood Center, then at Ogden Elementary School, and then at Woodmere Middle School before finally landing at Hewlett High School, where she taught for the last 22 years.

Fluent in several languages, including English, Greek, Spanish, and French, Ntina helped establish the district’s first English as a Second Language summer program. She taught academics and exposed the students to the culture of a world languages through educational trips.

Ntina will be sorely missed by both colleagues and students. “She dedicated her career to our ENL families, and was well-known for her caring, compassionate teaching style and staunch advocacy for her cherished students,” recalled Hewlitt-Woodmere Superintendent Marino. “Ms. Paleos-Stemas’ love for her students extended far beyond the halls of Hewlett-Woodmere, as she remained in contact with them for many years after graduation.”

Fellow teacher Caryn Bachar agreed. She remembered that Ntina was a positive and supportive force in the lives of her students. “Ntina dedicated her career to educating English Language Learners and advocated for them in school and in their lives,” Bachar said. “Many of her students stayed in touch with her long after graduation. She was invited to their graduations, weddings, and the births of their children.”

When not in the classroom, Ntina loved to spend her time with her children, family members, and friends. She also loved to travel to experience other cultures, and spent much time in her native homeland of Greece.

To read more about Ntina, see this obituary published by liherald.com.

William Spaulding: Teacher, politician, and dedicated public servant

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Washington, DC’s William Spaulding: Exemplary teacher, engineer, accomplished politician, and dedicated public servant. Photo credit: Historical Council Photographs.

Many fine educators have also earned distinction in the political realm. One of these is William Spaulding, a teacher who was elected as a member of the inaugural Council of the District of Columbia when Washington, DC, earned home rule.

William was born on June 15, 1924, in North Carolina. William attended Howard University, a traditionally Black institution of higher learning located in Washington, DC. There he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Once he earned his degree, William taught school in DC public schools. His career there spanned from 1947 to 1952. He also taught at Howard University from 1950 to 1960. In addition, during that period he served as an engineer at the National Security Agency (NSA) from 1952 to 1974.

When Congress passed the District of Columbia home rule bill, the former public school teacher left his position with the NSA. He was elected on the Democratic ticket to a seat on the newly-formed DC Council, where he served from 1975 to 1987.

In 1980, William became a professor at the University of the District of Columbia, another historically Black college. He also served as the Chairman of the Fort Lincoln Foundation, a Board member of the Kidney Foundation, and a member of the American Heart Association. He also served as the Director of the Department of Administrative Services for the District of Columbia Court System.

In 2013, the University of the District of Columbia conferred upon William an honorary doctorate, in recognition of his nearly 60 years of “dedicated service to DC Public Schools and other organizations on behalf of the city’s youth, reflecting his unwavering support of education as a means of improving individual lives and the whole community.” To read the entire proclamation, see this link: Conferral of Honorary Degree.

One-time teacher and former MA State Senator John M. Quinlan

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One-time high school teacher and former Massachusetts State Senator John M. (Jack) Quinlan. Photo credit: Public Domain.

American history abounds with stories of talented classroom teachers who also made a mark in politics. This is true of John M. Quinlan, a teacher who was elected as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate.

John was born on July 11, 1935, in Natick, Massachusestts. All his life he preferred to be called “Jack.” When John was a child, he attended public school in Dover, Massachusetts, and later he transferred to Sacred Heart High School, a private high school located in Kingston, Massachusetts.

As a young man, John enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1957. Once he earned his degree, John accepted a position as a teacher at Franklin High School, a public high school located in Franklin, Massachusetts. He taught there for four years.

Once he left the classroom, John inaugurated his career in politics. His first position was as an assistant to United States Senator Leverett Saltonstall, a fellow Republican from Massachusetts. But in 1964, John was elected on his own merit on the Republican ticket to the Massachusetts State Senate. He served there until 1974. While serving in the Senate, John dedicated his effort primarily to campaign finance reform. In 1968, John accepted a position as the state chairman for United Citizens for Nixon-Agnew. That year, he also worked toward the election of the governor and the lieutenant government.

Once his term in the State Senate was complete, John served as an aide to Margaret Heckler, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. He also worked in 1990 as the campaign director for Jim Rappapport, another Massachusetts Republican, in his campaign for the US Senate.

This Chalkboard Champion is still living in Massachusetts. He is 85 years old.

 

Glenna Fouberg: Known in South Dakota as “Mrs. Education”

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South Dakota educator Glenna Fouberg, 1994 State Teacher of the Year, was known throughout her state as “Mrs. Education.” Photo credit: South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Very few teachers are so accomplished they become renowned throughout their state, but one who did was Glenna Fouberg of South Dakota. In fact, Glenna was known as Mrs. Education in her state.

Glenna was born Sept. 1, 1942, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was raised in Ashley, North Dakota, and graduated from Ashley High School in 1960. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education in 1963 from Northern State Teachers College and her Master’s degree in Counseling from South Dakota State University in 1968.

Glenna inaugurated her career as a teacher at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. She also taught in the South Dakota cities of Sisseton, Bristol, Webster, and Aberdeen. Throughout her lengthy career, she was known as a teacher with a commitment to helping students on the margins of the state’s education system. The last 13 years of her career she was director of the Alternative Learning Center in Aberdeen. At the Alternative Learning Center she extended services to middle school students, those at the Juvenile Detention Center, and those at the New Beginnings Center, a home for at-risk youth. She also mentored other school districts in the creation of similar centers.

This exemplary educator served 19 years on the South Dakota Board of Education, four of them as its president. She also chaired the Indian Education Advisory Board for ten years, and she helped established both the annual Indian Education Summit and the South Dakota Teacher Summit. Under her leadership, Teach for America was brought to the state, and through that program many teachers were placed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. For her work in the field of education, Glenna was recognized as South Dakota’s Teacher of the Year in 1994. In all, this amazing teacher spent 38 years in the profession.

Sadly, this amazing educator succumbed to Covid-19 in her home town of Aberdeen on Jan. 5, 2021. She was 78 years old. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this article about her published by the South Dakota Hall of Fame.