Category Archives: Education

Educator Bonnie Bracey Sutton: Spokesperson for the profession

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Educator and consultant Bonnie Bracey Sutton is a spokesperson for the profession.  (Photo credit: Educational Technology & Change)

I think it is wonderful when a fellow educators become spokespersons for our profession in Washington, DC. One such educator is Bonnie Bracey Sutton, a former elementary school teacher who now works as a technology consultant.

Bonnie taught at the Ashlawn Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia, and was a teacher-in-residence at the Arlington Career Center, where she taught all subjects. Since 2004, Bonnie has served as the Education Director for Digital Equity and Social Justice. The Digital Equity Network enables educators, researchers, and educational reformers to be aware of policies, news, and new technologies. She is also an active member of the Digital Divide Network and does preventative work on cyber-bullying.

Bonnie was one of the first teachers to promote the role of the internet in classroom instruction. She was the only teacher selected by the Clinton administration to serve on the National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIIAC). Bonnie also served as the lead educator on President Clinton’s 21st Century Teacher Initiative.

This remarkable educator is a graduate researcher at George Mason University’s Telecommunications Department, where she evaluated new programs and technologies. She was also a member of the George Lucas Educational Foundation advisory board.

Throughout her career, Bonnie has earned many accolades. She was named a Christa McAuliffe Educator for the National Foundation of Education, and she is a faculty member of the Challenger Center. She was  named a Young Astronaut teacher and, in 1990, was named a Challenger Fellow. That year she received the President’s Award in Teaching in Science. Bonnie has also attended the Hubbell Space Science Institute and holds honors in a variety of fields in educational fields, including technology, aerospace, physics, geography, and multicultural education. She has also earned a graduate degree from Marymount University SED program.

Bonnie Bracey Sutton: Truly a Chalkboard Champion. To read more about her, see her articles published by the George Lucas Foundation on Edutopia.

Judith Isaacson: Math teacher and Holocaust survivor

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Many educators have had unique life experiences they share with students. One was Judith Isaacson, a Holocaust survivor who taught high school math in Maine.

Many talented educators have had unique life experiences they are willing to share with their students. One of these was Judith Isaacson, a Holocaust survivor who taught high school math in Lewiston, Maine.

Judith was born on July 3, 1925, in Kaposvar, Hungary. In July, 1944, the 19-year-old was arrested by the Nazis and deported to Auschwitz with other members of her family. There she spent eight months in forced labor in an underground munitions plant located in Hessisch Lichtenau. After she was liberated, she married an American intelligence officer. The couple returned to the United States and settled in his home town of Lewiston, Maine.

An intelligent woman, Judith earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Bates College in 1965 and her Master’s degree in Mathematics from Bowdoin College in 1967. After earning her degrees, she taught math at Lewiston High School. There she chaired the school’s first Department of Mathematics. Later she gained a position as a Dean at her alma mater, Bates College.

In 1990, Judith published her Holocaust memoir entitled Seed of Sara: Memoirs of a Survivor. The volume served as the inspiration for an electronic chamber opera in 1995 and an experimental film in 1998. The book made the teacher a sought-after speaker for schools, youth groups, and community groups throughout Maine.

Throughout her career as an educator, Judith garnered numerous awards and three honorary degrees. In 2004 she was inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame. She was also honored with the Deborah Morton Award for Outstanding Women from Westbrook College in 1993. In 1996, she garnered the Gordon S. Hargraves Preservation of Freedom Prize from Bowdoin College, the Maryann Hartman Award for Distinguished Maine Women from the University of Southern Maine, and the Remember Me Award from the Maine Healthcare Association. In 2003, she was recognized as one of the Women of Distinction by the Kennebec Council of the Girl Scouts.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away on November 10, 2015. She was 90 years old.

Mildred Watson: The teacher who trained future educators

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Sometimes excellent teachers go on to train other educators. One of these was Mildred Watson, a biology teacher who became a supervisor for student teachers. (Photo credit: Los Angeles Times)

Sometimes excellent classroom teaches go on to train other educators. One of these was Mildred Watson, a high school biology teacher who eventually became a supervisor for student teachers.

Mildred Watson was born on May 23, 1932, in Greenwood, Mississippi. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Tougaloo College. She also earned her first Master’s degree from the Ohio State University, her second Master’s from California State University, Fullerton, and her third Master’s from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. In addition, Mildred earned her PhD in Education from Claremont McKenna College.

After earning her degrees, Mildred taught biology and later became a counselor at Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana. At various periods of her career as an educator, she also worked at the Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles and Los Alamitos High School. Towards the latter part of her career, Mildred worked as a supervisor for student teachers at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Mildred also participated in many charity organizations. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and 100 Black Women of Orange County.

Mildred passed away on December 22, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. She was 88 years old. To read more about this amazing educator, see her obituary published by the Los Angeles Times.

Florida teacher and coach Jeff Larson succumbs to Covid-19

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Florida science teacher and football coach Jeff Larson passed away from Covid-19 on Dec. 25, 2019. (Photo credit: Milton High School)

It is with great sadness that we report the passing Jeff Larson, a beloved educator and coach from Milton, Florida. Jeff succumbed to Covid-19 on December 25, 2019. He was 60 years old.

Jeff’s career as an educator spanned nearly four decades He taught first in Texas, and then he relocated to Florida, where he spent the last 25 years of his career. He was a science teacher and football coach at Milton High School in the Santa Rosa County School District in Milton, Florida.

Jeff will be sorely missed. “He was probably the most revered science teacher in the department,” remembered Tim Short, Milton High School Principal. “A great teacher, a tremendous football coach, but a better person.” Short continued, “He wasn’t a coach that taught, he was a teacher that coached. His peers could see the impact that he had on kids and on the school and on the community.”

Not only was he an exemplary educator, but Jeff’s prowess as a football coach was also well-known. “Many have wondered just how he took a group of average/undersized offensive linemen and delivered them to the doorstep of a Florida State Championship,” remarked Jeff’s former student Wesley Meiss, who is now the mayor of Milton. “Answer: Technique. His technique turned young boys into the men we are today,” Meiss continued.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Jeff sponsored the school’s martial arts club and the debate club. He also coached baseball, softball, and other sports. Jeff was honored as the Teacher of the Year in 2004-2005.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this story published by the Pensacola News Journal.

Wisconsin’s Mandy Wright served in her state’s Assembly

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Wisconsin elementary teacher Mandy Wright was also elected to her state’s Assembly.(Photo credit: Ballotpedia)

Many excellent educators also make successful politicians. One of these is Mandy Wright, an elementary school teacher from Wausau, Wisconsin, who has also served in her state’s Assembly.

Mandy was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, on June 7, 1977. As a youngster, she attended Riverview Elementary School, and then Wausau East High School, where she earned varsity letters as a cross-country ski captain, the goalie and captain of the girls’ soccer team, and the football kicker.

After her high school graduation, Mandy studied English and Norwegian at St. Olaf College,  a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. She earned her Master’s degree from Viterbo University, a private liberal arts college in La Crosse, Wisconsin. During these years, she also did volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and as an after-school coordinator at Jefferson Elementary, where she organized many community programs and events.

After college, Mandy taught sixth grade as an English/ELL teacher at Wausau West. She taught there for four years. She has also taught sixth grade and coached soccer at Horace Mann Middle School.

In November, 2012, Mandy was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly on the Democratic ticket. She defeated Republican Pat Snyder, a radio show host with a huge following. While in office, she represented the 85th District, serving on the Committees for Education, Agriculture, Consumer Protection, and Small Business Development.

Once she left office, Mandy returned to the field of education, accepting a position at Marathon Venture Academy, a public charter school. She also participates in many community service organizations. She is a member of the League of Conservation Voters; the Farmer’s Union; the Wausau Nordic Ski Club; the Friends of Rib Mountain; the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce; Sierra Club; YMCA; and Stoney Acres Community Farm. Also, she is a Safe Schools Ambassador Family Leader.

To learn more about this educator and politician, see the information on this link by Ballotpedia.