Jessica May named Colorado’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Middle school teacher Jessica May has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: University of Northern Colorado

Congratulations to middle school teacher Jessica May of Colorado. She has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Jessica teaches courses in family and consumer sciences at Turner Middle School in Berthoud, Colorado. Her curriculum is focused not only on cooking and sewing, but also on self-care, social emotional learning, life skills (including personal finances), child development, and school to career.

In her classroom, this exemplary teacher wants to ensure what she’s teaching applies to the lives of her students. “Make your content connect to the real world or why are we teaching it,” she advises. “They’re writing, they’re researching, they’re budgeting,” describes Jessica. “They’re going to be writing to the community to ask for donations, money to buy these things (to renovate the old classroom) and then to help them paint and replace and all kinds of stuff,” she continued.

Jessica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1996. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University in 2018. Her career as an educator spans 21 years.

For her work in the classroom, Jessica has garnered many awards. She earned her district’s Commitment to Excellence award in 2016; the Conrad Ball Middle School’s New to the Nest Teacher of the Year in 2019; the Thompson Education Foundation’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2020; and Rotary Teacher of the Month in 2021.

Jessica’s selection to recognize her as an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled K-12 classroom teacher. Next, she will be honored at a special ceremony at the White House and get the opportunity to go to NASA’s Space Camp. She will also become a member of the Colorado Education Commissioner’s Teacher Cabinet.

 

DC PE teacher Alex Clark establishes bicycling program

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Health and physical education teacher Alex Clark has been named the PE Teacher of the Year for the Eastern District by  SHAPE America. Photo credit: SHAPE America

Today the Chalkboard Champion spotlight shines on an amazing physical education teacher: Alex Clark of Washington, DC. Alex teaches health and physical education courses at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Washington, DC. He has been at the school for about nine years. But he is probably better known for his Prime Biking Program.

With the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, Alex became concerned with the health of students who were confined mostly indoors. To help them engage in physical activity, he founded his Stay Prime Biking Program. Through the program, students met with each other and cycled to different locations throughout the DC area two times each week.

Stay Prime has grown to serve over 300 students in the DC area. The program not only helps students stay healthy, but it also encourages young people to come together as a community. “The bike is just a tool to teach students about life,” declares Alex. The students repair and build bicycles not only for themselves, but also for local elementary students. “It has manifested into a way for us to give back to the community,” the teacher says. Alex’s accomplishments have been so successful that he has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and the Today Show—twice!

For this work, Alex has earned several accolades. In 2023 he was named a runner-up for the OSSE (Office of the State Superintendent of Education) Teacher of the Year. In 2024, he was honored as Shape America’s Physical Education Teacher of the Year for the Eastern District. He also garnered a DCPS (District of Columbia Public Schools) Standing Ovation Award.

Alex earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education from Central Connecticut State University in 2014.

Teacher Giovanna Margalli recognized by MN State Dept. of Education

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Elementary school teacher Giovanna Margalli of Edina, Minnesota, has been recognized as one of the best teachers in her state. Photo credit: Education Minnesota

The Minnesota State Department of Education recognized several teachers they consider to be the best in the state last April. One of them is Giovanna Margalli. She was one of eleven teachers throughout Minnesota who were named finalists for their 2023 State Teacher of the Year.

Giovanna a fourth grade teacher at Cornelia Elementary School located in Edina, Minnesota.

“Teaching is complicated and messy, but hidden within the mess are the most beautiful moments of connection. And being a part of those moments is why I teach,” declares Giovanna.

Congratulations, Giovanna!

 

Teacher of Tuskegee Airmen Willa Brown Chappell is part of Black History

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As part of the celebration of Black History Month, I share the story remarkable teacher and Chalkboard Champion Willa Brown Chappell. During World War II, this amazing educator was a pioneer in the aviation field, and she even became a teacher of Tuskegee Airmen. Watch the video below to learn more about her.

Former elem teacher Jennifer Pawlik serves in the Arizona House of Representatives

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Former elementary school teacher Jennifer Pawlik now serves in the Arizona State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Jennifer Pawlik

Many fine educators also serve their communities as politicians. One of these is Jennifer Pawlik, a former elementary school teacher from Arizona who currently serves in the State House of Representatives.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University in 1996. In 2010, she earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction through a collaborative cohort between Northern Arizona University and Chandler Unified School District.

After completing her education, Jennifer became a teacher. She worked in public schools for more than two decades, the last nine in the Chandler Unified School District. As a classroom teacher, Jennifer served as a member of the Chandler Education Association, where she represented elementary school teachers in the bargaining process for improved contracts and better benefits. Currently, she teaches  undergraduate students in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College campus.

While a teacher, Jennifer also became an active leader in her community. She served as Secretary of the Legislative District 17 Democrats, she was a former Precinct Committeeman in the Emmett precinct, and she was elected a State Committee member. After becoming involved in local campaigns in 2014, Jennifer was encouraged to apply to Emerge Arizona, a six-month program that trains Democratic women to hold public office. She graduated from the program in 2015. Next, Jennifer participated in the Leading for Change program in the spring of 2016. During the spring of 2018, she was honored to be named as a Flinn-Brown Fellow.

Jennifer inaugurated her career as a politician in 2018 when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 17 in the Arizona House of Representatives. In November, 2022, she was re-elected to the State House, this time representing District 13. There she serves on the Committees for Education, Judiciary, Government and Elections, and Ways and Means.