Category Archives: Education

WWII Veteran Braulio Alonso was a distinguished educator

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Florida teacher, NEA President, and US Army veteran Braulio Alonso. Photo credit: Jefferson High School.

When we think about veterans who are also Chalkboard Heroes, one name that immediately comes to mind is Braulio Alonso. This distinguished educator and World War II veteran can boast of numerous accomplishments during his lifetime.

Born in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida, in 1916, the son of impoverished cigar makers, Braulio graduated as the valedictorian of his class from Hillsborough High School in 1935. He was also the valedictorian of his college class when he graduated from the University of Tampa in 1939.

Braulio began his teaching career as an instructor of physics and chemistry courses at Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, but in 1941, when World War II erupted, he became part of the United States Army. He was immediately sent to officer candidate school, and later he became part of the 85th Infantry Division in North Africa. The teacher-soldier was promoted to Battery Commander for the 328th Artillery Battalion, taking an active part in the Italian campaign. He was among the first Allied soldiers to liberate Rome. By the time he was discharged from the service, Braulio had earned a Bronze Star with Cluster and a Purple Heart.

After the war, Braulio continued his career as an educator. He was named the Director of Adult Education and headed an on-the-job training program for returning veterans. He also taught classes and served as a principal at several schools, including West Tampa Junior High, Jefferson High School, and C. Leon King High School.

Always intent upon improving the quality of education, Braulio became the president of his local teachers’ union, eventually becoming the president of the Florida Education Association, where he led the drive to integrate the organization. In 1967, he was elected the president of the National Education Association, the first Hispanic to hold that office. While NEA president, Braulio worked to persuade teacher organizations throughout Europe to join with NEA for an international conference to combat racism, anti-Semitism and apartheid, and served as its secretary. In 1966 he became an international figure when he was asked to mediate a dispute among teacher organizations and the Bolivian government. This was the first of many missions to mediate disputes, including efforts in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Brazil, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Ghana.

This remarkable Chalkboard Hero passed away of natural causes in 2010. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.

Military veteran and teacher LouAnn Johnson known for memoir on which movie “Dangerous Minds” was based

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US military veteran and teacher LouAnn Johnson became famous for writing the book on which the movie Dangerous Minds was based. Photo Credit:US Marine Corps

Sometimes teachers feel like running our classroom is a lot like being in the military. We have to organize our time like clockwork, plan our lessons in meticulous detail, and often instill some regimental discipline on highly-energized recruits. One Chalkboard Champion who has done all this very successfully is LouAnne Johnson, an educator, author, journalist, and former servicewoman in both the US Navy and the US Marines.

LouAnne is best known for her book My Posse Don’t Do Homework, which was adapted as the film Dangerous Minds starring Michelle Pfeiffer in 1995, and a television series starring Annie Potts in 1996.

LouAnne was raised in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. After her graduation from high school, she enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but dropped out after a few weeks to enlist in the US Navy, who sent her to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. She served nine years on active duty, achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class. She wrote about her experiences during these years in her 1986 book Making Waves: A Woman in This Man’s Navy. She later transferred to the US Marine Corps, where she rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. Throughout her military service, LouAnne earned the Navy Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Award for her work as a journalist and ​radio-television broadcaster.

When her stint in the Marine Corps was completed, LouAnne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California, her Master’s degree in Teaching English from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sage Colleges in Albany, New York.

In 1989 LouAnne garnered her first position as an educator at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where she began teaching reading and writing to non-English speakers as an intern. Two years later, she was appointed Department Chair of a special program for at-risk teens. During the government evaluation of ten similar pilot programs, LouAnne’s group was rated first in academic achievement, increased self-esteem, and student retention. Since then, LouAnne has taught English, adult basic education, developmental reading, and writing at high schools and colleges.

To learn more about LouAnn, click on this link to the APB Speakers Bureau.

Educator and WWII war hero John “Bud” Hawk earned a Medal of Honor

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WWII veteran and war hero John “Bud” Hawk worked as a teacher and principal in Washington state for 31 years. Photo Credit: Dignity Memorial

Many excellent educators have also served our country in the military. One of these is John “Bud” Hawk, a teacher and principal who served valiantly in the US Army during World War II.

John was born on May 30, 1924, in San Francisco, California. When he was in the third grade, his family relocated to Bainbridge Island, Washington state, a place that John always considered home. He graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1943, and two weeks later he joined the US Army.

This intrepid soldier served in Europe as a sergeant in Company E, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, serving under then Lt. General George S. Patton. While there, John sustained injuries during a battle against the German army near Chamois, France. During this battle, John fought off German soldiers with his machine gun before an artillery shell destroyed it and wounded his right thigh. He found a bazooka and helped force German tanks into a forest. He regrouped two machine gun squads and built a working gun out of two damaged ones. Later in the battle, John braved gunfire at the top of a knoll to help tank destroyers sight their targets. Because the destroyer crews couldn’t hear his directions, Hawk ran back and forth several times to correct their range until two of the tanks were destroyed, a third retreated and 500 German soldiers surrendered.

For this heroic action, John earned a Medal of Honor from Pres. Harry Truman in 1945. During his years in the military, the future teacher was awarded no less than four Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and a Distinguished Conduct Medal from the United Kingdom. Later John was inducted into the French Legion of Honor.

After the war and his discharge, John returned to Washington state, where he enrolled at the University of Washington. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology. For the next 31 years, the military veteran worked as a teacher and principal in the Central Kitsap School District. He retired from the teaching profession in 1983.

Sadly, John Hawk passed away on Nov. 4, 2013. He was 89 years old. To honor him, Jackson Park Elementary School in Bremerton was renamed John D. “Bud” Hawk Elementary School.

 

Teacher, WWII internee, and US Army veteran Tadashi Tsufura

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Math teacher Tadashi Tsufura was an internee in a Japanese American internment camp, and later a US Army veteran. Photo Credit: Japanese American Museum

There are many talented educators who are stellar teachers largely because they have overcome tough personal circumstances themselves. One of these was Tadashi Tsufura, a math teacher and principal in New York City who spent several years of his childhood in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Tadashi was born on September 17, 1930, in Los Angeles, California. He was the third son of a Buddhist minister and a teacher who immigrated to the United States from Japan.

The youngster’s life changed dramatically on December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Empire of Japan. Prejudice against Japanese people living in the United States ran high, and even the US government was guilty of racial profiling. On his 12th birthday, Tadashi and his family were forced by the United States to move to one of the two Gila River internment camps located in a desert valley in Arizona. They were among approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry who were interned during the war. Many of those interned were American citizens.

As a young man, Tadashi determined to serve his country in the military. He enlisted in the Army in 1951 and fought on the front lines of the Korean War from until 1953. After his discharge, Tadashi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Fenn College. The college is now known as Cleveland State University.

Although Tadashi enjoyed success as a chemical engineer, he was not happy in his work. He moved to New York City where his brother was living. Because the city was experiencing a shortage of educators, the scientist decided to try teaching. He completed education courses at Brooklyn College and then accepted a position as a math teacher at two schools in Manhattan.

Before long, Tadashi was promoted to the position of principal of PS 41 in Greenwich Village, where he worked for eight years. Then he was promoted to the position of Deputy Superintendent of District 3 on the Upper West Side. He retired in 1988.

Sadly, Tadashi Tsufura passed away from coronavirus on March 29, 2020, in New York City. He was 89 years old. To read more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see this link at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose.

Middle school educator Kerrie Gill named DoDEA’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Middle school English teacher Kerrie Gill has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year for the US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Photo Credit: DoDEA

Many outstanding educators have earned recognition for their work with young people in the classroom. One of these is Kerrie Gill, an American middle school teacher who works on a military base in Belgium. She has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year by the US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

In a career that spans 13 years, Kerrie currently teaches at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American Middle School in Mons, Belgium. There she serves the students of US military personnel and NATO partners. She teaches courses in English Language Arts, Creative Writing, and Advancement for Individual Determination (AVID).

As a product of DoDEA schools herself, Kerrie says. her passion for teaching military-connected students originates from her experience as a self-described “army brat.” In her classroom, Kerrie says she believes in fostering authentic relationships, creating student-led collaborative learning environments, and empowering students to take an active role in their own learning. 
 
In addition to her work in the classroom, Kerrie serves her school community as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and the Campus Executive Leadership Team. She also supports students and colleagues as the Sixth Grade Team Lead, Continuous School Improvement Chair, and Site Literacy Lead. 
 
Kerrie’s selection as the DoDEA’s 2024 Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition this Chalkboard Champion has earned. While working in Kentucky, she garnered the Elizabethtown Independent Schools Excellence in Teaching & Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award, and she was named a City of Elizabethtown Outstanding Citizen. Most recently, she was named the 2024 Americas Southeast Teacher of the Year by the DoDEA.

Kerrie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Behavioral Disorders with an emphasis in middle grades English from Eastern Kentucky University. She has also completed two Master’s programs in Education with a focus as a teacher leader and a literacy specialist, both from the University of the Cumberlands.