Category Archives: Education

Melissa Collins inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame

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Dr. Melissa Collins of Memphis, Tennessee, is one of five educators that has been inducted into the 2020 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. (Photo credit: Chalkboard Tennessee)

I enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators who have earned recognition for their work. One of these is Dr. Melissa Collins, a second grade teacher from Memphis, Tennessee. Melissa is one of five educators who have been inducted into the 2020 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF).

For the past 21 years, Melissa has taught at John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis. She is passionate about global learning, teacher leadership, and STEM. In fact, she is well-known for nurturing curiosity in science with her students. “We need to turn our classrooms into learning labs,” asserts Melissa. “That’s what I try to create. You have to give students total autonomy. At this age, they’re curious about the world around them and ready to ask questions. They’re always asking questions! We need to recognize the importance of them asking questions. They need to be able to pose the questions and then seek out their own understanding,” she continues.

Melissa is one of 145 teachers who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since the organization was founded in Emporia, Kansas, in 1992. Inductees have at least 20 years of teaching experience across Pre-K to 12th grade.

For her work in the classroom, Melissa has garnered many accolades. In addition to her NTHF honors, Melissa garnered the 2013 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2008 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. She was named a 2014 finalist for Tennessee Teacher of the Year. She is a member of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, a National Board–Certified teacher, a founder of the National Board Network of Accomplished Minority Educators, and a Top 50 Finalist for the 2018 Global Teacher Prize. Melissa serves as the 2019–2020 Co-Chair of Shell Science Teaching Award and the Co-Chair of the EdTech Genome project.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to an interview with her published by Scholastic Teacher.

 

New Mexico teacher Laura Escalanti succumbs to Covid-19

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With great sadness we report that yet another beloved educator has been lost to Covid-19. Laura Escalanti, a teacher at Pojoaque Valley Middle School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, succumbed to the disease on November 21, 2020. (Photo credit: Santa Fe New Mexican)

With great sadness we report that yet another beloved educator has been lost to Covid-19. Laura Escalanti, a teacher at Pojoaque Valley Middle School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, succumbed to the disease on Nov. 21, 2020. She was 69 years old.

For more than 20 years, Laura instructed courses in Spanish and the Tewa language at the middle school. In addition, she served on the planning team for Tewa Women United’s A’Gin Project.

The loss of this dedicated Native American educator has been keenly felt in the community, and in her Pueblo of San Ildefonso. “We lost a treasure,” remarked Joe Talachy, Governor of the Pojoaque Pueblo. “People like her are invaluable. It’s hard to find people with that kind of ambition, that kind of charisma and character that really gets through to our youth,” he declared.

As a young girl, Laura attended St. Catherine Indian School, where she graduated in 1968. She enrolled at the College of Santa Fe, but dropped out when she was a senior to get married. With her new husband, Laura moved to the Mescalero Apache Reservation, where she lived for 27 years. In 1995 she obtained a divorce and returned to her home town of Santa Fe.

When she returned to Santa Fe, Laura earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in Multilingual/Multicultural Education. She accepted her first teaching position at her alma mater, St. Catherine Indian School, where she worked until 1998. The next year she relocated to Pojoaque Valley Middle School. Later Laura earned a second Master’s degree in Education Administration from New Mexico State University.

To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this article published in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Educator Laura Escalanti, pictured in the back row, fourth from the left, with students from her Tewa Women United’s A’Gin Project. (Photo credit: Tewa Women United)

Gayle Wright: Science teacher and member of PA House of Reps

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Former high school science teacher Gayle Wright also served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. (Photo credit: Pennsylvania House of Representatives)

Many fine educators have also made their mark as successful politicians. One of these is Gayle Wright, a high school science teacher who was also elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Gayle was born in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan, on February 3, 1951. As a young woman, she attended Port Huron Northern High School, where she graduated in 1969.

Following her high school graduation, Gayle attended the University of Akron in Akron Ohio.  As a STEM-focused institution, the school curriculum focuses on industries such as polymers, advanced materials, and engineering. There Gayle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Geology in 1973. She also completed graduate courses in Correctional Counseling at Gannon University, a private Catholic university located in Erie, Pennsylvania. .

After earning her college degree, Gayle taught science at both the high school and middle school levels in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was employed in both the Millcreek and the Erie School Districts.

Gayle inaugurated her career in politics when she was elected to serve on the Erie City Council. She served a total of three terms in that capacity. In 2001, the former teacher was elected on the Democratic ticket in a special election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 2nd District. That district covers Erie County. She served there until Nov. 30, 2002. There she served on the Committees for Environmental Resources and Energy; Local Government; and State Government. In addition to her responsibilities in the House, Gayle has been involved in many civic groups. She has been a member of the Democratic Women’s Council and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and 2008. In addition, she has served on the Children’s Museum Board and the Cable T.V. Access Board.

To learn more about Gayle’s work as a legislator, see this link to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Hubbard Yetman: New York teacher, veteran, and politician

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Teacher, American veteran, and politician Hubbard Yetman of New York. (Photo credit: Prominent Men of Staten Island (1893), Internet Archive)

Many fine educators log accomplishments in fields outside of the classroom. One of these was Hubbard Yetman, a school teacher from New York who also achieved success as a local and state politician.

Hubbard was born on August 28, 1847, in Englishtown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. As a young boy, he attended school at Monmouth Hall in Freehold.

Hubbard was only 15 years old when he enlisted in the 14th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry to fight in the Civil War. His unit was part of the Army of the Potomac, and young Hubbard participated in all of the engagements of his unit. First he served on the front lines as a drummer, and then he was appointed an adjutant’s clerk. Although he was once wounded, his injuries were not severe, and he stayed with his unit until the War Between the States was won.

Once the Civil War was over, Hubbard taught public school in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York. His career as an educator there spanned 15 years. Once he left the classroom, he served his town as the Justice of the Peace and sold insurance. In 1888, Hubbard was elected to the New York State Assembly on the Democratic ticket. There he represented New York’s Richmond County. He was re-elected to this position for two additional terms. While there, the legislature improved local tax laws, increased the county’s police force, and created a pension fund for retired police officers. In 1893, the former teacher was elected School Commissioner, but he declined to serve. However, he did accept an opportunity to serve as the Town Supervisor for Westfield in 1897. When New York City consolidated, the former teacher was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Schools representing Richmond. He held that position until 1902.

This remarkable educator and politician passed away on October 18, 1924. He is interred in Bethel Cemetery in Staten Island. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this article entitled Prominent Men of Staten Island, (1893) published in the Internet Archive.

 

Texas Teacher Librarian Maria Lourdes Luna succumbs to Covid-19

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Maria Lourdes Luna, a Teacher Librarian for Burleson Elementary School in Odessa, Texas, succumbed to Covid-19 on December 24, 2020. She was 62 years old. (Photo credit: Dignity Memorial)

Sadly, we report that yet another beloved educator has died from Covid-19. Teacher Librarian Maria Lourdes Luna of Odessa, Texas, succumbed to the disease on December 24, 2020. She was 62 years old.

Maria was born on December 18, 1958, in Marfa, Texas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. In 1997, she earned her Master’s degree in Reading from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Later she earned her credential as a Library Media Specialist.

The career of this dedicated educator spanned a total of 39 years. At the time of her passing, she was employed by Odessa’s Ector County Independent School District. She worked for the school district for 37 years, all of which were spent at Burleson Elementary School. According to family members, Maria “believed in the power of reading, and she was passionate about her job. She wanted success for each one of her students. She took pride in her school and was always eager to help. She loved her job, she loved her colleagues, but most of all she loved her students.”

In addition to her responsibilities in the library, Maria was very active with her local Parent Teacher Association. She also organized spelling bees and Blue Bonnet programs for her school. The Texas Bluebonnet Award Program is a state-wide program for students in grades 3-6. Librarians nominate 20 new children’s books each year from different genres to be on the Bluebonnet list. The purpose of the program is to promote free-choice reading and expose students to a variety of quality literature.

To read more about Maria Lourdes Luna, click on this link to the obituary published by Dignity Memorial.