Category Archives: Education

PA’s Chuck Heberling: Teacher, coach, NFL referee, veteran

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Chuck Heberling was a teacher, a coach, an NFL referee, and a veteran of WWII. Photo credit: Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

Many outstanding educators also serve as excellent sports officials. One of these is Chuck Heberling, a Pennsylvania teacher and coach who was also a distinguished official for the National Football League (NFL).

Chuck was born on April 28, 1925, in Pittsburgh. After his graduation from Perry High School, he served during WWII as a fighter pilot in the United States Navy. At the conclusion of the war, he enrolled at Pennsylvania’s Washington & Jefferson College, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1949. There he was a multi-sport athlete, lettering in both football and baseball.

After earning his college degree, Chuck accepted a position as a teacher and the coach of the football and basketball teams at East Washington High School. During the 1970’s, he served on School Board of the North Allegheny School District.

For 15 years, Chuck worked as a football official at the high school and college level. He also spent 23 years as an official in the NFL. For 16 of those years he was the crew chief. And as if that were not impressive enough, he was the referee for two of the most famous games in professional football: The Hail Mary in 1975 and The Drive-In in 1987. He also served as an alternate on the crew of officials for the Super Bowl XIII and the Super Bowl XXI, and as the replay official for the Super Bowl XXIII.

In 1976, Chuck became the Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPISL). At that time, the WPIAL was rapidly growing as one of the top scholastic organizations in the country. In 1992, Chuck inaugurated the WPIAL Scholar-Athlete program. During the next few years, the program awarded scholarships to more than 50 students from more than 40 high schools. Chuck retired from the WPIAL in 1997 after 21 years. Today, the WPIAL serves as a model around the county for high school athletic organizations.

In 2002, Chuck was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the Washington & Jefferson College Hall of Fame.

Chuck Heberling died of natural causes on Dec. 9, 2019, at his hime in McCandless, Pennsylvania.

Florida teacher Bertha Vazquez has earned many accolades

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Science teacher Bertha Vazquez was won many accolades for her work in the classroom. Photo credit: Sage Publishing

I always enjoy sharing stories about one of the many fine science educators in our country. One of these is Bertha Vazquez, an award-winning science teacher from Miami Dade County Public Schools in Florida. She has won many accolades for her work in the classroom.

Bertha taught earth science, physical science, and life science at George Washington Carver Middle School in Miami Dade, Florida. She also taught French, but her main focus has been encouraging instruction in environmental education across the curriculum. Her career as an educator spanned 34 years.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Bertha served as the Director of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES), a program connected with the Center for Inquiry and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. She retired from the teaching profession in 2023.

Bertha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, suma cum laude, from the University of Miami in 1989. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Science Education from Florida International University in 1999. She was also named to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 1999.

For her work as an educator, Bertha has earned many accolades. In 2008, she was named the South Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair Middle School Teacher of the Year. She garnered the Miami Dade Middle School Science Teacher of the Year Award in both 2008 and 1997, and in 1998 she was a finalist for Miami Dade Teacher of the Year. Bertha was also named a Premio Verde Escolar in 2012. She earned a Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM grant in 2014, a Charles C. Bartlett Award for the National Environmental Education Foundation in 2009, and a Verizon Foundation Grant for Educators in 2011. She was also a 2015 State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Oregon teacher Sybil Plumlee was a pioneer policewoman

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Oregon teacher Sybil Plumlee earned acclaim as a police officer specializing in the Portland Women’s Protective Division. Photo credit: The Oregonian

Many fine educators also pursue careers outside of the classroom. One of these was Sybil Plumlee, an Oregon teacher who earned acclaim as a police officer specializing in the Portland Women’s Protective Division.

Sybil was born April 29, 1911, in Seattle, Washington. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Portland, Oregon. There she attended from Jefferson High School. After her graduation from high school in 1930, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Oregon Normal School, now known as Western Oregon University. Once she earned her degree, Sybil accepted a position as a school teacher in a one-room schoolhouse located in Clarno, Oregon. Later, during world War II, she worked as an educator with the Ellis Mining Company in Bourne, Oregon.

In 1946, the former school teacher competed against 300 applicants to fill one vacant position on the local police force, an organization predominantly male-oriented. In fact, Sybil is recognized as a pioneer in the law enforcement field. She served in the unit known as the Women’s Protective Division, and worked on cases involving child abuse, rape, and domestic violence. Her service on that unit spanned from 1947 to 1967.

In addition to her careers as an educator and a police officer, Sybil was a published author. When she was 96 years of age, she published a collection of family stories and history entitled Stories of Hester Ann Bolin Harvey and Her Family. She also wrote Badge 357, an unpublished memoir of her career on the police force.

This amazing educator passed away on January 6, 2012. She was 100 years old. To read more about Sybil Plumlee, see her obituary published by The Oregonian.

Belgian teacher Andree Geulen-Hersvovici saves Nazi children from the Holocaust

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Andree Geulen-Hersvovici, a teacher in Belgium, is credited with saving the lives of almost 1,000 Jewish children during the Holocaust. Photo credit: Old Photo Club

I am always amazed when I stumble across the story of an intrepid teacher who has done something genuinely heroic. Recently I encountered the story of Andree Geulen-Hersvovici, a teacher in Belgium during World War II. She is credited with saving nearly 1,000 Jewish children from the Holocaust.

In 1942, while teaching one day in her classroom in Brussels, Andree noticed that some of her students were wearing yellow stars sewn to their clothing. The Nazi regime mandated that Jewish citizens wear the star so they could be quickly identified when out in public, and therefore easy to target for interrogation, abuse, or even deportation.

When Andree saw the yellow stars, she was furious. Not at the children, but at the cruelty of the Nazi regime. Determined that no one in her classroom would be singled out, she directed her entire class to wear aprons so the stars would not be visible.

Later Andree joined an underground group called the Committee for the Defense of Jews. There she embarked on a dangerous mission to save as many Jewish children as she could. First, she had to convince terrified parents to give up their little ones in order to save their lives. Then she personally escorted them, sometimes by train and sometimes on foot, to hiding places in homes, convents, and orphanages. In this way, she was able to smuggle almost 1,000 young children to safety.

All the while, Andree continued to teach at the Gate de Gamont School, where 12 Jewish children were being protected in secret. Unfortunately, in May of 1943, the school was raided. Nazi soldiers stormed into the building, rousting the students and demanding to see identity papers. The terrified Jewish children were arrested.

During this raid, one of the Nazi soldiers confronted Andree and asked her, “Aren’t you ashamed to teach Jewish children?”

Andree didn’t cower. She didn’t say silent. She defiantly looked the soldier in the eye and responded, “Aren’t you ashamed to make war on Jewish children?”

Once WWII was over, Andree wouldn’t allow others to call her a hero. She simply said that she was just doing what was right. But in the truest sense of the word, she was a Chalkboard Champion.

Jazzmyne Townsend named DC’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary Special Education teacher Jazzmyne Townsend has been recognized as Washington DC’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, and one of four finalists for the title of 2025 National Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Jazzmyne Townsend

There are many outstanding educators working today in America’s public schools. Some of them have been singled out for special recognition. One of these is Jazzmyne Townsend, an elementary teacher from Washington DC. She has been named the District’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. She has also been named one of four national finalists for the title of 2025 National Teacher of the Year.

Jazzmyne teaches second and third grade Special Education at Stanton Elementary School. Prior to teaching at Stanton, she taught pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade at Randle Highlands Elementary School from 2013—2023 and preschool and pre-K at Friendship Public Charter School’s Chamberlain Campus from 2010—2013. So far, Jazzmyne’s career as an educator spans 16 years. 

In her classroom, Jazzmyne employs research-based and developmentally appropriate strategies to meet the diverse needs of her learners. Her proficiency in integrating culturally responsive pedagogy has increased academic achievement and fostered a sense of belonging among her students. And because she recognizes the unique challenges faced by youngsters in urban settings, Jazzmyne has been a steadfast advocate for resources that support the children from this environment.

Jazzmyne’s influence extends far beyond the classroom. For example, when she noticed many girls who were struggling with challenges both inside and outside the classroom, she started “My Sister’s Keeper,” a group to serve as a safe place for the girls to form friendships, ask questions, be vulnerable, and develop as young women.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Jazzmyne is also a published author. She has written a book for children entitled Hattie Leads the Way. The volume, published in 2023, can be found on amazon.

Jazzmyne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Howard University in 2009. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education (ACS) in 2013. Currently, she is working on her PhD.