Susan Dixon, President Emerita of the California Retired Teachers Association, garners prestigious DKG award

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Susan Dixon, Past President of the California retired Teachers Association, garnered a prestigious award from Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG). Photo credit: DKG

There are many excellent educators who dedicate their considerable talent and energy towards the betterment of conditions of others. One of these is Susan Dixon, a retired elementary school teacher from California who was instrumental in increasing the monthly incomes of many of her fellow teachers.

After her retirement from the classroom, Susan became active in the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA). Among her other responsibilities in the organization, she served as the state President from 2023 to 2025 and as the President-Elect from 2021 to 2023. In these positions, she worked tirelessly to repeal legislation that prevented educators in California, and in several other states, from collecting Social Security benefits they had rightfully earned. Previously, laws restricted these educators from collecting their Social Security paychecks because they were already receiving a pension from the California State Teachers Retirement System. Once the legislation was passed, Susan participated in two national press conferences and was invited by President Joe Biden to attend the signing of the new bill in Washington, DC, on January 5, 2025.

As a result of her activism on behalf of the retired teachers, Susan garnered a prestigious award from Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), an international professional organization for women educators. The award she garnered, the 2026 California Professional Service Award, was presented to her in April, 2026, at the DKG Northern Conference.

Today, Susan continues her lifelong commitment to public education and advocacy as President Emerita of CalRTA. She also serves as Co-Chair of the National Retirement Security Task Force, CalRTA Federal Legislation Special Assistant, a member of the Senate Social Security War Room led by senior policy advisors to Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Area XIV Legislative Representative for Delta Kappa Gamma.

Before she retired, Susan taught second grade at Mar Vista Elementary School in San Clemente in Southern California. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher at Harold Ambuehl Elementary School in San Juan Capistrano. Susan’s career as an educator spanned 35 years.

Inspirational books to gift teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week

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Teacher Appreciation Week is here! This year, the celebration will take place from May 4 to May 8. When thinking about the best way to honor your teacher, or your child’s teacher, or friends and family members that are teachers, or someone you know that is going into the profession, consider gifting them with an inspirational book.

I suggest one of these two inspirational books, Chalkboard Champions and Chalkboard Heroes. The books make great reading anytime, but especially now, while educators are considering new and innovative ways to work with their students. They are also appealing to history buffs and social scientists. Each volume is packed with inspirational stories about remarkable educators in American history and the historical implications of their pioneering work.

Among the captivating stories in Chalkboard Champions is the story of Charlotte Forten Grimke, an African American born into freedom who volunteered to teach emancipated slaves as the Civil War raged around her. Read the eyewitness account of the Wounded Knee massacre through the eyes of teacher Elaine Goodale Eastman, and educator Mary Tsukamoto, imprisoned in a WWII Japanese internment camp. Read about Mississippi Freedom Summer teacher Sandra Adickes who, together with her students, defied Jim Crow laws to integrate the Hattiesburg Public Library. Marvel at the pioneering work of Anne Sullivan Macy, the teacher of Helen Keller, the efforts of teacher Clara Comstock to find homes for thousands of Orphan Train riders, and the dedication of Jaime Escalante, the East LA educator who proved to that inner city Latino youths could successfully meet the demands of a rigorous curriculum.

In Chalkboard Heroes, you’ll find about dedicated educators who were heroes both inside and outside of the classroom, including WWI veteran Henry Alvin Cameron and Civil War veteran Francis Wayland Parker. Learn about teachers who were social reformers such as Dolores Huerta, Civil Rights activist Robert Parris Moses, suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, and Native American rights advocate Zitkala-Sa, all of whom put themselves at risk to fight for improved conditions for disenfranchised citizens. Discover brave pioneers who took great risks to blaze a trail for others to follow such as Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space; Willa Brown Chappell, the aviatrix who taught Tuskegee airmen to fly; Etta Schureman Jones, the Alaskan teacher who was interned in a POW camp in Japan during WWII; and Olive Mann Isbell, who established the first English school in California while the Mexican american War raged around her.

All these remarkable stories and more can be shared with someone you know this year during Teacher Appreciation Week!

Chet Blalock: Teacher, veteran, and Montana State Senator

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Many talented educators have also made a name for themselves in the political arena. Such is the case for Chester Merle Blalock, better known as Chet Blaylock, a history teacher, veteran, and state senator from Montana.

Chet was born on Novembr 13, 1924, in Joliet, Montana. He served his country well as a member of the United States Navy during World War II. He earned four medals for his service in the South Pacific.

After the war, this heroic veteran earned his Bachelor’s degree in History in 1951 and his Master’s degree in Education in 1957, both from the University of Montana. He then worked as a teacher and school administrator for over 30 years in both Laurel and Chinook, Montana. He retired from the teaching profession in 1991.

During his long career as an educator, Chet served as a delegate to the Montana State Constitutional Convention in 1972, and as a member of the Montana State Senate from Laurel, Montana. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education, a livable environment, a good job, and affordable health care. He a spent a lifetime pursuing that objective.

In 1996, Chet became the nominee for governor of Montana. He ran on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Marc Racicot.  Sadly, on October 23, 1996, on his way to a debate with his opponent less than two weeks before the election, the former educator passed away of a heart attack at Deer Lodge, Montana. He was 71 years old. Chet Blalock was cremated and his ashes interred at Rockvale Cemetery in Rockvale, Montana. In his memory, a scholarship in the amount of $600 has been established to be awarded to a full-time student at Montana State University at Billings.