Looking to revise the rules in your classroom? Teachers know that classroom rules can vary a great deal depending on the age of the students and the subject matter being taught. But the website We Are Teachers has designed five classroom rules posters that are pretty universal, whether you’re in elementary, middle school, or high school. And here’s the best thing: they are giving away these posters for free! To get your set of posters, click here.
Category Archives: Education
Teacher and Revolutionary War hero Timothy Bloodworth
Teacher and Revolutionary War hero Timothy Bloodworth
Chalkboard Champions have been as much a part of American life as any other hero since the very beginnings of our country’s history. One such historical figure was North Carolina educator, patriot, and statesman Timothy Bloodworth.
Timothy was born in New Hanover County, North Carolina, in 1736. He was named after his father, who had migrated to North Carolina from Virginia in the early 1700’s. As a young man, Timothy had little formal education, but he pursued a variety of careers. Although he spent most of his adulthood before the Revolutionary War as a teacher, he also farmed, kept a tavern, operated a ferry, practiced medicine, and preached occasionally. He also worked as a wheelwright and watchmaker, but he was probably best known as a blacksmith.
This talented educator eventually emerged as a leader in the movement for independence from Great Britain. When war broke out in 1776, Timothy began making weapons such as muskets and bayonets for the Continental Army. According to legend, he even saw combat as a sniper in fighting around Wilmington, North Carolina.
In 1778 and 1779, he served as a member of the state legislature for North Carolina. After the war ended, he held a number of political posts until serving as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1786. Timothy was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the First United States Congress, a position he held from 1790 to 1791. After his tenure in the House ended, he returned to the North Carolina State Legislature. In 1794, Timothy was elected to the United States Senate, where he served from 1795 to 1801. From then until 1807, this chalkboard champion served as collector of customs in Wilmington.
Timothy Bloodworth passed away on August 24, 1814. During World War II, the liberty ship SS Timothy Bloodworth was named in his honor.
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A little laugh for hardworking teachers
Nathan Stowe, Greg Benson lead combined Pickerington Bands in 2019 Rose Parade
On New Year’s Day, approximately 333 excited student musicians from Pickering, Ohio, marched in the 2019 Rose Parade. The group was formed with 172 students from Pickering Central, under the direction of Band Director Nathan Stowe, and 161 students from Pickerington North, under the direction of Greg Benson.
The combined Pickerington Bands marched in honor of their former Band Director, Mike Sewell, who worked at Pickerington High School from 1981 to 2015. Before new construction in 2003 divided the institution into two schools—Pickerington North and Pickerington Central—Mike Sewell took his students to the Rose Parade three times: in 1993, 1997, and 2010. The highly-admired music educator passed away in 2017.
Director of Bands Nathan Stowe of Pickerginton Central High School.
Pickerington Central’s Band Director, Nathan Stowe, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio, and his Master’s degree in Music from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. He has been teaching instrumental music for 10 years. “It is a great honor to be the Director of Bands at Pickerington High School Central,” remarks Nathan. “Our band program has a national history of excellence. The Tiger Band has performed in national Parades, OMEA state final contests, and for politicians.”
Pickerington North’s Greg Benson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, summa cum laude, from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Music Education at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio.
Pickerington North’s Director of Bands Greg Benson.
Although this is Greg’s first year at Pickerington, he has numerous years of experience as a band director. Before teaching at Pickerington, he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Grove City High School in Grove City, Ohio. During his four years there, he was part of the leadership team that took Grove City to the Rose Parade two years ago. Prior to his work in Grove City, Greg served as Director of Bands at Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis City Schools in southeastern Ohio. He taught there for two years.
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Na Koa Ali’l Hawaii All State Marching Band appears in 2019 Rose Parade
The very colorful Na Koa Ali’l Hawaii All State Marching Band appeared in the the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2019. This is the fourth Rose Parade appearance for the 400-member group; the other three appearances were in 2003, 2009, and 2014. This unique marching band, which is comprised of members from 44 public and private schools from all over the state of Hawaii, was founded in 2002 by Band Director John Riggle, now Director Emeritus of Kailua High School and Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus. .
John, a California native, attended San Jose State University in San Jose, California, where he earned both his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree in Music Education.
Following his college graduation, John inaugurated his career as a teacher and band director at Sunnyvale High School in the Fremont Union High School district in Fremont, California. He worked there from 1969 to 1977. During these years, the band flourished into one of the top-ranked marching bands of Northern California.
John relocated to Hawaii in 1977, where he became the band director for the Kapalama Campus High School Band program of Kamehameha Schools. He worked there for 33 years. During his years there, the Kamehameha Schools Warrior Band and Color Guard became one of most renowned and successful marching bands in the country.
John retired in 2009, but returned to Kamehameha Schools as a temporary band director for the 2012-2013 school year. After that, he completed two years as a band director at Kailua High School. Recently, John retired from Hawaii Department of Education. Over the years, in addition to his classroom duties, John has also been an adjudicator, clinician, and advisor to other bands and performing groups.
