Florida computer science teacher Tim Clyatt succumbs to Covid-19
Florida computer science teacher Tim Clyatt succumbed to complications from Covid-19 on November 13, 2021. Photo credit: Jacksonville Memorial Gardens.
Sadly, we report that yet another beloved educator has succumbed to complications from Covid-19. Tim Clyatt, a teacher in the Clay County School District in Clay County, Florida, passed away on November 13, 2021. He was only 59 years old.
Tim was a computer science teacher at the Bannerman Learning Center in Green Cove Springs. The unique facility prepares non-traditional students for success in a global and competitive workplace by teaching students positive life skills and by teaching them to become life-long learners. The school reports an enrollment of minority students at 43%, and economically disadvantaged students at 56%.
Tim’s career as an educator spanned nearly 20 years. In a statement released by the school district, Tim was described by District officials as a “dedicated teacher who made a difference in the lives of many during his teaching career.” His students agree. “It’s tragic,” remarked Bannerman ninth grader Brooklyn Powers, who described her teacher as “most of the kids’ favorite teacher at the school.” The student added, “He understood kids very well.”
Tim was born April 16, 196,1 in Lake City, Florida. After his graduation from Columbia High School in his home town in 1979, he continued his education at Florida State University.
In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Tim was a member of the National Education Association, the Florida State University Garnet Key Honor Society, the Clay County Education Association, and the Florida Education Association.
To read more about Tim Clyatt, see this link to a story about him published by The Florida Times Union.
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New Mexico teacher and politician Stephanie Garcia Richard
Former elementary school teacher Stephanie Garcia Richard served three terms in the New Mexico State House of Representatives. Photo credit: Stephanie Garcia Richard.
Many fine educators also make excellent politicians. One example of this is Stephanie Garcia Richard, a former elementary school teacher from New Mexico who served three terms in her state’s House of Representatives.
Stephanie was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and raised in Silver City, where she graduated from Silver High School. At a very young age, she learned the importance of serving others. Her father, a WWII veteran, was a teacher; her mother was active in their community.
After her high school graduation, Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bernard College at Columbia University in New York in 1996. She completed the requirements for her teaching credential from California State University of Los Angeles 2006.
Once she earned her degrees, Stephanie worked as a teacher at a number of charter schools in New Mexico. From 2009 to 2012, she was employed as a third grade teacher at Pablo Royal Elementary School in Pojoaque. She’s also taught in Ohkay Owingeh, Española, California, and from 2000 to 2004, she was a teacher in Korea.
In 2012, Stephanie was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 43 in the New Mexico House of Representatives. The District includes parts of Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval counties. She served three terms in the House, from 2013 to 2017. While there, she championed laws to increase access to a quality education, transparency, and investments in renewable energy, job training, and economic development. She served was the Chair of the Education Committee and the Committee for Appropriations and Finance. Currently, Stephanie is the Commissioner of Public Lands for her home state. She assumed office on January 1, 2019, and her term will end on January 1, 2023. Stephanie is the first woman, the first Latina, and the first educator to serve in the position as New Mexico’s Commissioner of Public Lands.
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Educator Marilyn Pryle named PA’s 2021 Teacher of the Year
High school English teacher, author, and public speaker Marilyn Pryle has been named Pennsylvania’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Marilyn Pryle.
Many outstanding teachers from all over the country have been recognized for their talent in the classroom. One of these is Marilyn Pryle, a high school Language Arts educator from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. She has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.
Currently, Marilyn teaches at Abington Heights High School, where she has worked for the past 11 years. The school is a highly rated, public school located with an enrollment of 1,075 students in grades 9-12. The student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Previously, Marilyn taught in Boston and Philadelphia. But she inaugurated her professional career in Kathmandu, Nepal, where for two years she worked as a Jesuit International Volunteer. Inall, her career as an educator has spanned 20 years.
In addition to her work in the classroom, has authored seven books for educators on the subject of teaching reading handwriting. She frequently presents at local, state, and national conferences. And, as if all that were not enough, this indefatigable teacher is also an organizer of the Scranton English Conversation Group, a community outreach program for local refugees.
“We’ve all heard that teaching is the profession that creates all other professions, and this is of course true,” asserts Marilyn. “I’d like to go a step further than that. Teaching is the profession that creates the very character of our culture. Teaching is the profession that creates the fabric of our discourse as a nation. Teaching is the profession that creates the conscience of our democracy,” she continues.
Marilyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education (1991) and her Master’s degree in Reading Education (1997), both at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. She also completed a Master’s in Fine Arts program with an emphasis in Creative Writing at Emerson College in 2000. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Wilkes University in 2020. In addition, she is a National Board Certified Teacher.
To read more about Marilyn Pryle, click on this link to her website.
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Teacher Lorna Herseth served as SD First Lady, Secretary of State
South Dakota teacher Lorna Herseth served as her state’s First Lady, and later as the South Dakota Secretary of State. Photo credit: G.A. Miller.
Many fine classroom teachers have also served as excellent politicians. This is certainly true of Lorna Buntrock Herseth, a teacher and politician from South Dakota.
Lorna Buntrock was born in Columbia, South Dakota, on April 5, 1909, the youngest of 11 children born to immigrants from Germany. As a young woman, she attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where she earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her teaching credential.
Once she completed her education, Lorna taught in public schools in Brown County. In 1936. she was elected to the position of Brown County Superintendent of Schools. She later served on the Selby School Board. She taught in both rural and urban schools around the state.
In 1937, Lorna married her college sweetheart, Ralph Herseth, after having dated for many years. The couple farmed a ranch on the east side of Sand Lake near the town of Houghton for nearly 30 years. On this farm they raised wheat, corn, and Aberdeen Angus cattle. During these years, Ralph served as a South Dakota State Senator and in 1958-1960, was South Dakota’s 21st Governor and Lorna served as the state’s First Lady from 1959 to 1961. While Ralph was Governor, the first state-wide teachers’ retirement benefit program was established.
After Ralph’s death in 1969, Lorna continued her career in politics when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve as the South Dakota Secretary of State. She served two terms in this position, from 1973 to 1979. As if all this were not enough, Lorna also served on the Board of Directors for the Brown County Red Cross. She also served as the State Director of the Easter Seal Society.
Lorna passed away on September 8, 1994, at the age of 85. She is interred in Houghton Cemetery in Brown County, South Dakota.
