In celebration of Black History Month, here is a short video below I created which describes a remarkable Civil War-era teacher, Charlotte Forten Grimke. This intrepid teacher and Chalkboard Champion, born into a free Black family, went to the Deep South to teach emancipated slaves, even though the Civil War was raging all around her. Watch to learn more:
Football coach Rodney Saulsberry, Sr., of Whitehaven Tennessee has garnered a 2023 AFCA Regional Power of Influence Award from the American Football Coaches Association. Photo Credit: Rodney Saulsberry
Many outstanding athletic coaches who work with our nation’s young people are deserving of recognition. One of these is Rodney Saulsberry, Sr., a football coach from Memphis, Tennessee. He is one of five coaches who have garnered a 2023 Regional Power of Influence Award from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
In a career that spans 26 years, Rodney has spent 20 of them as the Head Football Coach at Whitehaven High School in Memphis. Over the course of his career, he has led his student athletes to an overall record of 185-53, capturing two Tennessee 6A state titles (2012 and 2016), the first championships in his school’s history. Over 200 of Rodney’s former players have gone on to play college football, and 15 of them have become coaches.
In addition to his work on the field, Rodney has served on both the Board of the Tennessee Football Coaches Association and the Rules Committee for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. He has also been a speaker at various football clinics around the country, including the 2013 AFCA Convention.
In 2020, Rodney co-founded the Minority Coaches Association of Tennessee, an organization which helps high school, college, and professional coaches in Tennessee foster job opportunities and hosts clinics for continuing education.
For his work with young people, Rodney has earned many awards, including his honors as a two-time Tennessee Titans Coach of the Week; a Tennessee Titans/Shelby Metro Coach of the Year award winner in 2012 and 2016; a three-time Regional Coach of the Year; and winner of the Rex Dockery Award from the Memphis Chapter of the National Football Foundation. He has also been inducted into the College Hall of Fame.
Rodney earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Austin Peay State University in 1995. He earned his Master’s degree in Teaching Mathematics from the University of Memphis in 2004.
Congrats, Rodney!
Art educator Troy Corriveau of Alton, New Hampshire, has been named the New Hampshire Art Educator of the Year. Photo credit: Prospect Mountain High School
In a time when many public school districts are decreasing funding for arts programs, it is especially gratifying when arts educators receive recognition for their valuable work. One of these educators is Troy Corriveau of Alton, New Hampshire. He has been named the New Hampshire Art Educator of the Year for 2023—2024 by the New Hampshire Art Educators Association.
Troy teaches at Prospect Mountain High School in Alton. He has taught there for 20 years. This Chalkboard Champion encourages all of his students to participate in programs such as the Scholastic Art Awards of New Hampshire, the statewide Student Art Month program, and local exhibitions of their work. In addition, Troy serves as the advisor for the school’s National Art Honor Society. And he serves as the Department Head and Curriculum leader.
As if all that were not enough, Troy is also a member of the adjunct faculty at the Institute of Art and Design at New England College in Henniker, where he is an instructor of Art Teaching Methods at the Secondary Level.
Troy demonstrates a deep level of concern for his students. “I have found students learn most effectively through personalized active learning that relies on the teacher facilitating and coaching them through their learning journey,” he says. “This approach requires the teacher to listen to determine what the student needs as well what their strengths and challenges are in order for (teachers) to be effective facilitators and learning coaches,” he continues.
High school English teacher Marcella Fitisone has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year for American Samoa. Photo Credit: Talanei.com
I always enjoy sharing the story of a remarkable educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Marcella Fitisone, a high school English teacher from American Samoa. She haas been named her territory’s 2024 Teacher of the Year!
Marcella teaches Language Arts at Tafuna High School, the largest public high school in American Samoa. At Tafuna, Marcella instructs courses of senior English and College Prep. She has a been teaching there for seven years.
Not only is Marcella a teacher at Tafuna, but she is also a 2013 graduate of the school. After her high school graduation, she relocated to Berea, Kentucky, where she enrolled at Berea College on an ASG scholarship. Upon completion of her Bachelor’s degree, she returned home to American Samoa to teach at her alma mater. In 2020, she earned her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Marcella inaugurated her career as a professional educator in 2017. During the course of her teaching career, she has taken on various leadership roles, including serving as the National Honor Society Board Chairwoman; Brown Sister Club co-founder and advisor; class advisor; Tech Team lead; Speech Festival coach; and Leadership Team member. She currently serves as school coordinator for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Marcella’s philosophy about teaching is based on the premise that education can provide students with the fundamental skills needed to be informed, successful, respectable and responsible citizens beyond the classroom. “Teaching is an act of love and courage,” she declares. “It is a challenge every single day, but it is so rewarding, too,” she continues. “The process of continuous learning is what I love most about teaching. Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow,” she concludes.
Elementary school teacher Jamie Keisel has been named the 2023 Educator of the Year by Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom. Photo credit: Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom
I am always excited to share the story of an outstanding educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Today, I share the story of Jamie Keisel, an elementary school teacher from Wyoming who has been named the 2023 Educator of the Year by the organization Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC).
Jamie teaches third graders at Greybull Elementary School in Greybull. To supplement her lessons in responsible agricultural stewardship, she organizes guest speakers from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, the Conservation District, and the agricultural community. In addition, she asks her students to write letters to local ranchers asking about their stewardship practices before taking a field trip to see the ranch in person. She also leads lessons from both the Agriculture and Outdoor Recreation and Tourism units.
“Jamie teaches our students to be good stewards of the land through her own examples and stories about the land and livestock that she takes care of in her own life,” says fellow teacher Misty Hernandez. “When the students can see real-life connections from her, it increases their buy-in to what she is teaching. Jamie truly loves teaching our students about agriculture in Wyoming and how to take care of our land and resources,” Misty continues.
The honored educator is not only active on her school campus, but also in her local community. She has been involved with writing, revising, and teaching the Wyoming Stewardship Project, and she participates in the annual Bookmark & Beyond contest.
The Educator of the Year program recognizes an outstanding elementary educator who demonstrates excellence in education by implementing innovative agriculture, minerals and energy, and outdoor recreation and tourism projects into their classroom and the surrounding community. A committee then selects one educator from the nominees is then awarded a cash prize of $2,500. To learn more about the program, click on this link to WAIC.
