Category Archives: Education

Elsie Ritchie: Drama teacher and former Hollywood actress

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Elsie Ritchie: Retired high school drama teacher and former Hollywood actress.

Many talented classroom teachers have also distinguished themselves in endeavors outside of the classroom. One of these was Elsie Ritchie, an English and drama teacher who was also a film actress from the 1970’s.

Elsie was the sister of Hollywood director Michael Ritchie. When she was a young woman, she portrayed roles in two movies he directed, including The Candidate in 1972 and Smile in 1975. Elsie nurtured her love for acting since she was a child. As a youngster, she participated in many local community theater productions.

After her graduation from  Berkeley High School, Elsie studied classical languages and art history at UC Berkeley, where she earned her degree. It made sense that she should choose Berkeley, since her father, Dr. Benbow Ritchie, was a professor there.

After her brief career in Hollywood, Elsie accepted a position as a high school English teacher at Aragon High School located in San Mateo, California. Her career as an educator spanned 22 years. During this time, she also worked tirelessly as the school’s drama teacher.

Once she retired, Elsie settled in Redding, California, where she lived since 2013. There Elsie returned to her childhood passion for community theater. She performed in productions of Romeo & Juliet, You Can’t Take It With You, The Nutcracker, The Dixie Swim Club, and Harvey. She also directed a production of The Gin Game at Redding’s Riverfront Playhouse. Written by D. Coburn, the play garnered a Pulitzer Prize in 1978. In addition to her work as an actress and director, Elsie led a local actors’ monologue workshop.

Sadly, Elsie passed away on November 7, 2018. She was 65 years old. To read more about this amazing educator, actress, and director, see the article published in the Record Searchlight entitled Bucket List gives actors crack at dream roles.

Noise pop musician and former teacher Alexis Krauss

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Former teacher and noise pop musician Alexis Krauss of the band Sleigh Bells.

There are many talented individuals in the entertainment industry who have also served as classroom teachers. One of these is Alexis Krauss, a singer and songwriter who from the noise pop duo called Sleigh Bells.

Alexis was born Sydney Alexis Krauss on September 27, 1985. Her father is a professional musician and her mother is a registered nurse.

As a young child, Alexis studied music and performed in numerous musical theater productions. When she became a teenager, she sang lead vocals and played the bass guitar in an all-girl band. The group recorded two singles and even produced an unreleased album.

Once she graduated from high school, Alexis enrolled in college at first Marymount Manhattan College, and then Pace University. She majored in political science, and then she decided to go into teaching.  “I was studying poli sci and international studies and was doing a lot of research on the right to education and children’s education,” Alexis once revealed. “I ended up joining Teach for America. I taught for two years in the south Bronx, and that was one of the most, probably the most, rewarding and challenging things I’ve ever done,” she expressed.

It was through the Teach for America program that Alexis met Derek Miller, and the two launched their careers in the music business together. They formed a noise pop duo and named themselves Sleigh Bells. The pair has released five albums together.

In addition to music, Alexis is an advocate for clean personal care products. She co-founded a website dedicated to educating consumers about the ingredients used in personal care products. The website is called Beauty Lies Truth.

Rock on Alexis.

Mourning the loss of former math teacher Joseph Griffith

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Former junior high school math teacher Joseph Griffith was killed in the mass shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas, on Sat., Aug. 31, 2019.

Once again the professional community is mourning the loss of a talented teacher. Former junior high school math teacher Joseph Griffith was among those killed in the mass shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas, on Sat., Aug. 31, 2019.

Joseph was killed as he sat at a traffic light with his wife and two children, reports the teacher’s sister, Carla Byrne. She recalled that only a day before his death, one of his former students told the chalkboard champion what an “awesome teacher he was.” In his career as an educator, Joseph worked diligently to developed close bonds with his students, Carla asserted.

Kaitlyn King, one of Joseph’s former students, recalled being in his seventh-grade math class when she attended Goddard Junior High School in Midland more than a decade ago. Kaitlyn, who declares she is “not a math person,” had failed the state’s standardized test the previous year. Joseph’s patience, charisma, and dedication helped her improve her test scores. He really wanted his students to learn, she said. “He was a very funny teacher, (but) very serious at the same time,” Kaitlyn said. “He was good at explaining everything.”

Joseph’s sister described her brother as a man with a wonderful sense of humor, and that he possessed an unusual talent for impersonating anyone. But nothing, she said, was more important to him than his devotion to his wife and children. He worked six days a week to support them, she revealed.

Also killed in the random shootings was a high school student, 15-year-old Leilah Hernandez. She was shot as she and her older brother were leaving an automobile dealership with the keys to new truck he had just bought. The teacher and the student did not know each other. Five others were slain in the attack, while another 22 were wounded. Police killed the gunman.

To read more about Joseph, click on this link to the New York Post.

Suggest a remarkable educator to be a subject on Chalkboard Champions website

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Super Teacher!There are so many talented educators out there that by myself I cannot possibly find out about them all. How about some help? Do you know a remarkable teacher?Someone everyone looks up to: students, parents, and administrators alike. Someone who serves as a model for the profession? A true Chalkboard Champion? This teacher could be someone who is already retired, or even someone from history that you admire. You can nominate that educator to be the subject of a blog post on this web site. Simply use the contact form at right to send me the name and email information for the teacher you would like to nominate. I’ll do the rest! Hope to hear from you soon!

Jada Reeves: West Virginia’s 2019 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary educator Jada Reeves from Mt. Hope, West Virginia, selected her state’s 2019 Teacher of the Year.

We are truly fortunate that so many wonderful teachers work in public schools in every state of our union. One of these educators is Jada Reeves, a fifth-grade teacher from Mt. Hope, Raleigh County, West Virginia.

Jada earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. She earned her Master’s degree in Reading Specialist from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. In addition to her degrees, Jada became Nationally Board Certified in 2013.

In a career spanning 16 years, Jada currently teaches at Bradley Elementary School. She has taught at that school for the last three years. She also serves as an assistant coach for a local middle school.

“I could not possibly think of another profession that would be as inspiring as an educator,” confessed Jada. “I adore my students and am passionate about teaching. Knowing I will step into my classroom each morning and tackle the day together with my students is always an encouraging thought,” she says.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Jada participates in many educational committees. She serves on her school’s Local School Improvement Council and she is part of the Instructional Practices Inventory Team. She also serves on the Leadership and Wellness Committees. Also, she conducts training for Raleigh County’s Innovative Team.

And that’s not all Jada does. She works for the West Virginia Department of Education as an online facilitator and Lead Coordinator for the Southern West Virginia National Board Certification Cohort. She is actively involved in the planning committee for the West Virginia Division of Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching. And as if all that is not enough, this indefatigable educator contributes posts for the blog of the National Board for Professional Teaching, The Standard. In addition, she was recently appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for the Education Alliance.

Jada also volunteers on several community projects. She is an assistant Girl Scout troop leader and fosters rescue dogs from Operation Underdog.

For her work as an educator, Jada has garnered statewide recognition. She was named West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2019.

To read more about this amazing chalkboard champion, click on this link: West Virginia Education Association.