Nebraska Special Education teacher Lisa Moody garners Milken Award

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Special Education teacher Lisa Moody from Omaha, Nebraska, has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Norfolk Daily News

There are many exceptional teachers working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Lisa Moody, an elementary school Special Education teacher from Omaha, Nebraska. She has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award.

Lisa teaches K-6 Special Education at Jefferson Elementary in Omaha. She works tirelessly to build innovative supports for her students. For example, she developed and instituted a hybrid inclusive education program when her school faced a shortage of special education teachers. The program mainstreams students enrolled in Lisa’s Alternate Curriculum Program into general education classrooms. There the students learn social skills in the classroom while still working with Lisa on academic subjects and life skills. The program has now expanded to several schools in her district. Jefferson school Principal Jennifer Schlapia noted that she has seen “amazing results” from the program and that the students involved in the program have met significant goals.

In addition to her work with students, Lisa conducts professional development at her school site. At the district level, she is an intensive teacher mentor, and she is a member of a committee that promotes equity in special education practices.

Lisa earned her Bachelor’s in Speech and Language Pathology Education in 2009 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education in 2011 from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, and a second Master’s in Education with Certification in Early Childhood and English as a Second Language in 2022 from Creighton University.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more about this honor, click on Milken Educator Awards.

 

GA teacher Ruth Frances Woodsmall was a global activist for women’s rights

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High School English teacher Ruth Frances Woodsmall of Georgia was a global activist for women’s rights in her day. Photo credit: Smith College

Many exceptional educators have also made significant contributions to society as a whole. One of these is Ruth Frances Woodsmall, a high school English teacher from Georgia. She is well-known as a post-World War II global activist for women’s rights.

Ruth was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sept. 20, 1883. She was the daughter of Harrison S. Woodsmall, a lawyer and teacher, and Mary Elizabeth Howes, an art teacher. Ruth grew up in Indiana and attended local schools. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska in 1905. She earned her Master’s degree from Wellesley in 1906.

After she earned her degrees, Ruth worked as a high school English teacher in both Nevada and Colorado from 1906 to 1917. Between 1917 and 1928 she held various positions in the YWCA, including a stint as Director of Hostess Houses in the US and in France. From 1921 to 1928, she was Executive Secretary of YWCAs in the Near East. Based in Istanbul, the former classroom teacher supervised branches in Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. In 1923, her jurisdiction was expanded to include Egypt and Palestine. From 1935 to 1948 Ruth served as General Secretary of the World’s YWCA.

From 1949 to 1952 Ruth served as the Chief of the Women’s Affairs Section of the US High Commission for Occupied Germany. For this work she received the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of West Germany. At the same, she did extensive research on the changing status of Muslim women in the Middle East and published several important works on the subject.

In recognition of her work with women and international relations, this exceptional educator received honorary degrees from the University of Nebraska in 1945 and the University of Indiana in 1954.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away in New York City on May 25, 1963.

NYC teacher Cindy Wang garners 2022-2023 Big Apple Award

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Educator Cindy Wang, who teaches English as a Second language, has earned a 2022-2023 New York City Big Apple Award. Photo credit:New York City Public Schools

I always enjoy sharing the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Cindy Wang, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher from New York City. She has earned a 2022-2023 Big Apple Award.

Cindy teaches ESL to juniors at International High School at Lafayette in Brooklyn, New York. The school offers a home to international students where they can develop their linguistic, intellectual, cultural, and collaborative abilities. As an immigrant herself, Cindy is uniquely qualified to help these students. “Growing up in an immigrant family, the struggles of learning a new language, as well as navigating a new culture, were deeply personal to me. I knew that I wanted to work with and empower immigrant students,” she once confessed.

To achieve this goal, Cindy earned a 7-12 certification in Teaching Chinese (Mandarin) as a foreign language. Shortly after, she invested her talents as the VELLOP coordinator at Vassar, providing programming and extra support for K-12 English Language Learners in the Poughkeepsie City School District. At the same time, Cindy enrolled in courses in a Master’s program in Applied Linguistcs and TESOL at Teachers College in New York City. She graduated from the program in May, 2018.

Today, Cindy works with a diverse group of English Language Learners at International High School at Lafayette in Brooklyn. In her classroom, she integrates the experiences of her students into projects designs to create an environment where students feel safe to take risks with language. As an educator, she brings culturally responsive education practices into every project that she organizes, including the use of literature.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Cindy has made numerous contributions to her school community. She is a team leader at her site. In this role, she facilitates weekly meetings where the team examines curriculum, reviews date, and plans supports for students. In addition, she serves as an advisor for the school’s student government, where she promotes the voices of students in decision-making, fosters peer tutoring and supports, advises a student newsletter, and guides a leadership development program. And as if all that were not enough, Cindy and her team also coordinate a 100-hour internship experience for every junior. Outside of the classroom, Cindy strengthens her practice through participation in an Early Career Fellowship with the Academy for Teachers.

The Big Apple Awards recognize and celebrate New York City teachers who Inspire students to be their best selves, dream, and advocate for their future; who. model equitable learning with high expectations for the diverse and dynamic needs of all students; who affirm students’ identities, unique gifts, and genius; who enrich their school communities by partnering with families, community members, and community-based organizations.

 

PE teacher Martha Priscilla Shaw was elected first woman mayor in South Carolina

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South Carolina physical education teacher Martha Priscilla Shaw was elected Mayor of Sumter in 1952, the first woman in her state to serve in that capacity. Photo credit: The State Newspaper

Many excellent educators have also served their community in political office and as a volunteer. One of these was Martha Priscilla Shaw, a physical education teacher in South Carolina who also served as the mayor of Sumter in the 1950s.

Martha was born on Aug. 29, 1904, in Alcolu, Clarendon County, South Carolina. While still a child, she moved to Sumter and enrolled in Sumter Public Schools. She graduated from Sumter High School in 1921. Following this, she attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, for one year, and then transferred to Sargent School of Physical Education, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1925. She also completed graduate courses at Boston University in 1937.

Martha taught PE courses in the Sumter Public School District from 1925 to 1939, a total of 14 years. In addition, from 1929 to 1950 she directed a summer camp for girls called Silver Pines in Blowing Gap, North Carolina. She also served her community through work with the Red Cross, the YWCA, and the Salvation Army. Additionally, she was a charter member of the local Junior Welfare League and completed volunteer hours for the Pilot Club, a local community service organization.

In 1950, Martha was elected to the Sumter City Council. She was the first woman to serve in that capacity. In 1952, Martha once again logged a first when she was elected Mayor of Sumter, the first woman mayor in her state. She served in that role until 1956. In recognition of her trailblazing work in politics and her community service, Martha was named one of three recipients of the National Mary Margaret McBride Award in 1954.

Sadly, Martha suffered a heart attack and passed away on Feb. 9, 1981. She was 76 years old.