Category Archives: Education

Sean Cattouse: Was an NFL player, is now a physical education teacher

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Sean Cattouse

Former professional football player Sean Cattouse now teaches high school level physical education.

Super Bowl fever is upon us! When thinking about the upcoming game, I am reminded that many times fine athletes also make talented classroom teachers. One example of this is Sean Cattouse, a former NFL player who now teaches physical education in a Chicago high school.

Sean was born on October 4, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois. As a young man, he attended Gurdon S. Hubbard High School in his home town. After his high school graduation, he played college football at the University of California, Berkeley

In 2012, Sean was signed by the San Diego Chargers, for whom he played one season. The next season, the 6’2″, 210-pound free safety played for the Chicago Bears.

Sean inaugurated his career as an educator at Muchin College Prep School in 2015. Muchin is a public four-year charter high school located in the Chicago Loop. Currently, he teaches physical education at Rauner College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois. Rauner College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the West Town area of the city.

Way to go, Sean!

Former NFL player Aaron Maybin now a teacher, artist, and community activist

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Aaron Maybin

Former NFL player Aaron Maybin now works as an elementary school art teacher, artist, and community activist.

As a former NFL linebacker, Aaron Maybin is a tough guy. But he never faced obstacles on the field like the ones he’s facing as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. This January, he’s teaching his class in what has been described as “life-threatening” sub-zero temperatures, even though the heating system broke down in his school building.

Aaron teaches at Matthew A. Henson Elementary, one of several in Baltimore which continued to hold classes this month, despite the deep freeze. But Aaron has tackled the Baltimore winter weather like a true pro. Through a GoFundMe page, he’s helped raise over $80,000 to pay for space heaters for the city’s schools and to buy winter coats, hats, gloves, and other warm clothes for the students.

Aaron, an artist and poet, teaches visual arts as an independent contractor at Henson three days a week through a program called Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center.

The former pro-football player harbors a deep connection to Baltimore. He grew up in the city, where his father was a longtime official with the city fire department. Aaron attended Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City, a suburb of Baltimore, where he played football. Following his graduation, he played for Penn State University, where he earned All-American honors. In 2009, the teacher was named a first-round draft pick for the Buffalo Bills. He played four seasons with first the Bills, and then the New York Jets.

After Aaron’s career as a professional football player concluded in 2013, he launched his career as a professional artist. He also founded Project Mayhem, a nonprofit organization that provides art activities for the public and supports the artwork of students in the Baltimore area. Aaron has also authored a book entitled Art Activism, published in 2017. The volume presents his paintings, photography, poetry, and prose to convey both the pride and pain of Baltimore. The book can be found on amazon at this link: Art Activism.

Aaron Maybin: Our Chalkboard Hero!

Aaron Maybin

Former NFL player Aaron Maybin teaches art to Baltimore students through his Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center.

Middle school teacher and former Green Bay Packers football player John Anderson

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John Anderson

Middle school science teacher and former Green Bay Packers football player John Anderson.

Super Bowl fever has hit the nation! As we get ready to enjoy this sports spectacular, I am reminded that there are many examples of gifted athletes who are also talented classroom teachers. One of these is Roger John Anderson, a professional football player who became a junior high school science teacher.

Roger was born on February 14, 1956, in Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. All his life he preferred to be called John. As a youth, John attended Waukesha South High School, where he played both football and basketball.

Following his high school graduation, John enrolled at the University of Michigan, where he studied from 1974 to 1977. While there, he played college football as a linebacker and defensive end. In 1976, this stellar athlete was selected to be a member of the First-Team All-Big Ten Conference. In 1977, he was named a First-Team All-American.

In 1978, John played the first of 12 seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round. During these years, he was selected by the Packers as their Most Valuable Defensive Player three times. By the time he retired from pro football, John had become the Packers’ all-time leader in tackles (1,020). He was was tied with Ray Nitschke for the career interception mark (25). In 1996, John was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

When John’s career as a pro-ball player came to a conclusion in 1989, he became a sportscaster for WITI station in Milwaukee. In 1998, he decided to teach Earth Science at Brookfield Academy, a non-sectarian, private pre-K-12 school located in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He also served as the linebackers coach for Carroll University in Waukesha. Established in 1846, Carroll University is a private liberal arts college associated with the Presbyterian Church. Carroll was Wisconsin’s first four-year institution of higher learning.

Now 62, John retired from his teaching position at Brookfield Academy in 2017. To view a four-minute video interview of this inspirational athlete and educator, click on this link: Alumni Spotlight: John Anderson.

Teacher Aaryn Birchell honored as Utah’s 2018 Teacher of the Year

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Aaryn Birchell

Teacher Aaryn Birchell of Uintah High School honored as Utah’s 2018 Teacher of the Year.

There are many examples of exemplary teachers throughout our country, and one of them is English teacher Aaryn Birchell of Uintah School District, who has been honored as the 2018 Utah State Teacher of the Year.

Aaryn hails from Vernal in Uintah County, Utah. As a high school student at Uintah High School, Aaryn organized 18 service projects for her school’s Honor Society, she coordinated a scholarship-writing workshop, taught ACT prep classes, and co-wrote the annual Senior Poem.

Aaryn earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Utah State University in 1999. After earning her degree, Aaryn became a volunteer at Utah State University’s Writing Center. She also worked as a substitute teacher for 12 years. When a part-time position teaching Advanced Placement sophomore English classes opened at her alma mater, Uintah High School, she applied for the position. She’s been teaching Advanced Placement Literature there since 2010.

Aaryn is a huge advocate for students. “Humanity is our greatest resource and we must invest and nurture all the beauty of potential as we send these souls to the world that needs their best,” she asserts.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Aaryn serves as a Board Member of the Uintah Literacy Commission. She also serves as the Director of the Vernal Storytelling Festival. She has also been a part of the Utah Education Association State Election Committee and has served as the Secretary for the Uintah County Education Association.

Remembering the first Teacher in Space, Christa McAuliffe

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Christa McAuliffe

High school history teacher Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire, chosen to be the first Teacher in Space.

One of the saddest days of my teaching career was the day our nation lost the first educator to go into space, New Hampshire history teacher Christa McAuliffe. In only my third year of teaching, I was so proud that a fellow teacher had been selected as the first civilian in space. I was more than a little star-struck by the professionalism, intelligence, and infectious enthusiasm of the chosen candidate, who was selected from among 11,000 other highly-qualified applicants.

During her mission in space, Christa planned to write a journal of her experiences as an astronaut from the perspective that even an ordinary citizen can take center stage in the making of history. She was to have been the perfect example of that. In addition, the intrepid educator was scheduled to perform lessons and simple scientific experiments aboard the space shuttle which would be viewed by students in classrooms all over America.
Tragically, Christa was one of seven astronauts killed when the space shuttle Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after lift-off. The journal she never got to finish was replaced by A Journal for Christa: Christa McAuliffe, Teacher in Space, written by Grace George Corrigan, Christa’s grief-stricken mother. This book is a tender tribute to an extraordinary teacher. A Journal for Christa can be ordered form amazon. I have also included a chapter about Christa McAuliffe in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and their Deeds of Valor, also available on amazon.