Maryland teacher Mary Carter Smith earned fame as a griot

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Maryland public school teacher Mary Carter Smith earned accolades as a radio personality, folklorist, and griot. Photo Credit: National Association of Black Storytellers

Many talented educators are also known for their artistic pursuits. One of these was Mary Carter Smith, a public school teacher in Maryland who earned fame as a radio personality, folklorist, and griot—a storyteller in African oral tradition. She has earned a reputation nationwide for reviving and promoting storytelling as an art form, as a teaching method, and as a form of communication.

Mary was committed to the power of storytelling in assisting understanding between people and in improving race relations. “Misunderstanding abounds. It has no special resting place. Rich and poor, majority and minority, young and old, Black and White – all feel the sting of being misunderstood,” she asserted. “And there are many people, using many ways, trying to lead us to a better understanding of each other. I am among those who fight misunderstanding,” she continued. “The weapons I use are stories, drama, songs, poetry, and laughter. I bring entertainment with a purpose,” she concluded.

Mary was born in Feb. 10, 1919, in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Coppin State University in 1942. In 1943, she accepted a position in the Baltimore City Public School system, where she taught for 31 years. In addition to her work in the classroom, Mary hosted a Saturday morning radio program entitled Griot for the Young and the Young at Heart.

As if this were not enough, Mary was a co-founder of the Arena Players Theatre Company and the Griots’ Circle of Maryland. In 1982, she co-founded the National Association of Black Storytellers. She was also instrumental in the founding of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in her city.

For her work as an educator and folklorist, Mary earned many accolades. In 1998, she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1996, she earned the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Circle of Excellence Award, both from the National Storytelling Association. Also, Mary was named the official Griot of Baltimore City, and in 1991, she was named the official Griot of the state of Maryland. In 1985, Mary garnered the Zora Neale Hurston Award. In 1982, she co-founded the National Association of Black Storytellers. She was also instrumental in the founding of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in her city. But the most amazing of all, I think, is that her image has been featured in the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum located in Baltimore!

Sadly, Mary Carter Smith passed away on April 24, 2007. To read more about her, see this article published by the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.

Florida teacher Lori Price garners PAEMST award

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Florida elementary math teacher Lori Price has garnered a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo Credit: Lori Price

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have garnered honors for their work. One of these is Lori Price, an elementary school math teacher from Florida who has been named a recipient of a prestigious PAEMST award.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, honors the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

Lori says she feels extremely honored to have been named a recipient of the recognition. “This award reaffirms the importance of building a student-centered community where risk-taking is encouraged and mistakes are seen as important learning opportunities,” she declares.

Lori has been an educator for more than 30 years. She is currently working as a Professional Development coordinator at the Discovery School, a private elementary school located in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to that, she taught in St. Johns County District Schools in Ponte Vedra Beach for 16 years. Lori says she strives to inspire all students to see themselves as capable learners with important ideas. She develops lessons that allow her students to engage in tasks that develop conceptual understanding and then use that understanding to derive strategies for solving problems. And she emphasizes cooperative learning. Outside the classroom, Lori founded a Primary Mathematicians Club for primary grade students so they could engage in activities that use real world mathematics.

In addition to her PAEMST, Lori was named the 2020 St. Johns County Teacher of the Year. She also participated in the District Teacher Advisory Group and is a member of the Florida Math Standards Committee. She has also served as the President of the St. Johns County Elementary Math Council and she has led the annual mathematics conference. Furthermore, she has presented on various topics at the state and national levels.

Lori earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. She earned her degree in Mathematics at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, in 2022.

Former NFL football player Todd Gerhart now a successful coach

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Former NFL football player now works as a successful football coach and physical education teacher in Southern California. Photo Credit: The Press Enterprise

There are many examples of talented athletes who have distinguished themselves as coaches and teachers after they have concluded their careers in sports. One of these is former NFL football player Todd Gerhart, who became a football coach and physical education teacher in public schools in Southern California after his career in the NFL concluded.

Todd, who was born on December 8, 1962, attended Norco High School in Norco, California. At 5’11” and 235 pounds, he made a great choice as a running back. Following his high school graduation, Todd enrolled at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in Fullerton, California. He played football for the Titans from 1981 to 1984. Once he graduated from CSUF, Todd was drafted by the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL). He also played in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Minnesota Vikings and did a very brief stint with the Houston Oilers.

When he retired from professional football, Todd returned to his alma mater, Norco High School, when he accepted a position as a physical education teacher and Head Football Coach. The school in located in the Corona Norco Unified School District. During his tenure, which lasted nine years from 2004 to 2012, the Cougars posted a combined record of 85-28. Two times in three years, the Norco team advanced to the CIF Championship, and they won the title in 2005 and 2006.

in 2013, Todd transferred to first Auburndale Intermediate and then Norco Intermediate, also schools in Corona Norco Unified School District, where he taught physical education. And he also worked as an Assistant Coach at Vista Murrieta in Murrieta, California, from 2018 to 2021.

In 2022, after a nine-year absence, he has returned to Norco High School, where he has accepted a position as an Offensive Consultant. “In some ways, it kind of feels like I never left,” Todd remarked. “It felt great walking back into the office and seeing the history on display… I’m ready to help out, and it’s been fun, so far.”

To read more about this amazing educator, read the article at CNS Sports entitled Gerhart Juggles Fatherhood, Coaching and Heisman Hoopla.

Rhode Island names math teacher Lisa Garcia the state’s Teacher of the Year

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High school math teacher Lisa Garcia of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, was selected as her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: WPRI.com

Hearty congratulations are due to Lisa Garcia, a secondary school mathematics teacher from North Kingstown, Rhode Island. She has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

In a career that has spanned 30 years, Lisa has taught 27 of them at North Kingstown High School. The courses she has instructed include Algebra, Honors Algebra, Calculus, Advanced Placement Calculus, Trigonometry, and Computer Science.

Lisa strives to create a classroom environment that promotes curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration. When she designs her instruction, she places emphasis on a rigorous curriculum and on developing the skills needed to become lifelong learners. Her lessons connect her students with the global community and inspire them to think beyond the four walls of the classroom. And she actively supports the social and emotional growth of her kids.

In addition to teaching math, Lisa organizes fundraisers and decorates the school for events such as Spirit Week. She served as Lead Teacher on the school’s international Mason Tours. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spearheaded the Flocked Fundraiser, a pandemic-safe way of celebrating the school’s graduating seniors by placing flamingos on their lawns to help raise morale. And as if all that were not enough, Lisa also mentors beginning teachers.

Lisa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Mathematics and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Rhode Island College.

The Teacher of the Year Award Program was founded in 1952 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to bring recognition to the importance of teachers as nurturers of the American Dream. His goal to honor all teachers by the selection of a representative teacher from each state would result in the yearly selection of a National Teacher of the Year. This is accomplished through a selection process that involves classroom teachers, school administrators, state officials, students, parents, and business representatives.

To read more about Lisa Garcia, see this article about her published by the Rhode Island Department of Education.