Category Archives: Education

Teacher Erik Bohen elected to the New York State Assembly

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Erik T. Bohen

Teacher Erik Bohen elected to the New York State Assembly.

Educators, as a group, are among some of the most civic-minded individuals in our communities, so it should come as no surprise that many of them have decided to run for public office today. One of these dedicated educators is Erik T. Bohen, a special education teacher from New York who has already been elected to a seat in his state’s Assembly.

“I am honored to be representing the people of the 142nd District,” declares Eric. “I am committed to reforming New York’s educational system, helping the middle-class by working to lower the tax burden on families, and creating jobs so our children can remain home in Western New York.”

Eric earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Special Education from St. Bonaventure University located in St. Bonaventure, New York, in 2004, and his Master’s degree in Special Education from Canisius College located in Buffalo, New York, in 2007. He earned his teaching credentials at Erie Community College located in Buffalo, New York, in 2014.

In his younger days, Eric worked as a game-day usher for the Buffalo Bills football team, as a groundskeeper for the City of Buffalo Parks Department, and as a camp counselor for both Cradle Beach Camp in Angola, New York, and Blue Mountain Cross County Camp in Poyntelle, Pennsylvania. He also did a six-year stint as the Head Coach for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams of Mt. Mercy Academy, a private school located in Buffalo, New York. For 13 years he worked as a special education teacher in the Buffalo Public School system. Most recently he taught at Lorraine Academy, PS 72.

For his work in the classroom and in the community, Eric has earned many accolades. He garnered the 2017 Tim O’Neil Good Samaritan Award from the Ryan Purcell Foundation; the 2014 Mt. Mercy Academy Spirit Award form Community Service; and other public service citations from such bodies as the US Congress, New York State Assembly, the Erie County Legislature, and the Buffalo Common Council.

To learn more about Erik Bohen, visit his website at Assemblymember Eric T. Bohen.

Educator Dayna Polehanki runs for Michigan State Senate

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Dayna Polehanki

Educator Dayna Polehanki is running for a seat in the Michigan State Senate.

Many talented and dedicated educators have decided to throw their hat into the ring in this year’s mid-term elections. One of these is Dayna Polehanki, a high school English teacher who is making a bid for a seat in the Michigan State Senate.

Dayna is running on the Democratic ticket to represent her state’s District 7. This district, previously held by term-limited Senator Patrick Colbeck, includes the communities of Livonia, Canton, Plymouth, Northville, and Wayne. In the upcoming November general election, Dayna will face off against two opponents: Republican Laura Cox and Libertarian Joseph LeBlanc. Impressively, for this election Dayna has earned the endorsement of President Barack Obama.

Dayna is a long-time resident of Michigan. She graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University; her teaching credentials from Alma College, a private liberal arts college in Alma, Michigan; and her Master’s degree in Teaching from Marygrove College in Detroit. She also earned an administrator credential from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. Dayna has taught English in the New Haven Community Schools District for the past 16 years. She currently teaches twelfth grade English at New Haven High School.

For her work in the classroom, Dayna has earned many accolades. In 2018, she was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for New Haven Community Schools, and the year before, she was one of two recipients of the Michigan Schools and Government Educator Advantage Scholarship.

Before Dayna became a teacher, she was the manager of Features Casting at Paramount Pictures. She is also the owner of a small business. For the past ten years she has been the owner of Detroit Casting Company, and she has also served as the Michigan casting director of such productions as Alex Cross, Into the Storm, and The End of the Tour.

To learn more about this chalkboard champion and political candidate, visit her campaign website at www.daynaforsenate.com.

Educator Amy Perruso runs for seat in Hawaii State House of Reps

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Amy Perruso

Educator Amy Perruso runs for a seat in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Because of today’s highly-charged political climate, educators are becoming more and more interested in serving their communities in public office. One such educator is Amy Perruso, a high school social studies teacher running for a seat in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Amy’s drive to serve her students and her community is palpable. “I ran for office because the children in our public schools need strong advocates,” declares Amy. “Teachers have always stepped up to do this work, and entering the political arena in this way, as teachers who are union leaders, is a natural reflection of how teachers lead in our community and the ways in which our union advocates for the common good,” she continues.

Amy advanced to the November elections when she won the Democratic primary last summer, beating Lei Learmont. In the general election she will face off against Republican John Miller.

In a career that has spanned 18 years total, Amy has spent the last 14 of them as a teacher at Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. Among the several courses she teaches is Advanced Placement Government and APUSH. Amy has also served as a reader for the College Board on the APGOV exam, and she has been as a member of the Hawaii State Social Studies Work Group. She is also a member of the Every Student Succeeds Act Team, which is responsible for creating a blueprint for the future of Hawaii’s public schools. In addition to all this, Amy has served three terms as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Amy’s talent and dedication as an educator has not gone unnoticed. She was a Fulbright Scholar and a finalist for the Gilder-Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year Award.

To learn more about this candidate, visit her website at www.amyperruso.com.

Sharing stories about outstanding teachers

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Super Teacher!I love to tell stories about talented, outstanding teachers. There are so many phenomenal stories that could be told! I believe that teachers represent the best our country has to offer, and, as a group, they are among the most dedicated, hardworking, and talented individuals anyone can know. It fills me with joy to be able to describe myself as an educator.  I love to share these inspirational stories in my blog, on my website, and in my books. These are stories of truly amazing individuals who have made significant contributions to the lives of so many, and it fills me with pride to know that, every day, talented educators all over the country are continuing to influence the lives of their students in such positive ways.

To read inspirational stories about outstanding teachers, subscribe to this blog. IN addition, you can purchase my first book, Chalkboard Champions: Twelve Remarkable Teachers who Educated America’s Disenfranchised Students, at amazon.com at this link:  Chalkboard Champions. You can purchase my second book,Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and their Deeds Valor, at amazon.com at this link: Chalkboard Heroes. Both books are available in ebook and print versions.

Enjoy!