Teachers are, without a doubt, some of the bravest individuals that exist on the planet. The proof? Teachers have volunteered to stay in Ukraine and resume teaching their classes in bunkers, basements, and underground subway stations. In times of upheaval, kids need the kind of calm, reassurance, and stability their Chalkboard Champions are providing.
During the month of March, teachers all over the country will be celebrating Women’s History Month with their students. The annual observance features women’s contributions to history, culture, and society, and has been celebrated in the United States since 1987.
Women’s History Month had its origins as International Women’s Day, a day that commemorated the Feb. 28 meeting of social reformers and suffragists in Manhattan, New York, in 1909. On March 8, 1911, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Europe—particularly in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. However, the holiday wasn’t widely celebrated in the United States until 1975, when the event was first sponsored by the United Nations.
In March 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared that March 8 was the official start of National Women’s History Week. That same year, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Representative Barbara Mikulski of Maryland co-sponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution declaring the week of March 8, 1981, National Women’s History Week. By 1987, Congress declared the entire month of March Women’s History Month. Since then, every president has declared the month of March Women’s History Month.
It’s important to celebrate this annual event to remind ourselves, and also teach our students, about the many accomplishments made by women throughout history. From science to literature to politics to the arts, the month-long celebration offers a chance to reflect on the trailblazing women who have led the way for change, not only in our country, but also around the world.
So, Chalkboard Champions, teach on!
Sixth grade social studies teacher Brianna Ross has been named Maryland’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Morgan State University
Congratulations are in order for Brianna Ross, a middle school Social Studies teacher who has been named as Maryland’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year.
Brianna teaches World History to sixth graders at Deer Park Middle School in Randallstown, Maryland. She also serves as the Social Studies Department Department Chair and as her school’s Equity Liaison, where she works towards creating culturally inclusive classrooms. In addition, she co-ordinates a summer transition program to support incoming sixth graders in a variety of ways—socially, emotionally, and academically—as they prepare for the expectations of middle school.
“In my classroom, I have created a culture that prioritizes building positive relationships and academic rigor above all else,” declares Brianna. “It is my mission to ensure that when each of my students steps into my space, they feel that they are part of a community that loves them, values who they are, and will protect them no matter what,” she continues. “Taking care of my students will always be my first priority,” she concludes. Brianna’s career as an educator spans six years.
Her designation as Maryland’s 2022 Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition Brianna has earned. She was named a Fellow of the New Leaders Council in 2018 and worked with other educators to identify progressive solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future in Maryland.
Brianna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Development Psychology in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2015, both from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her certification in Administration and Supervision from Loyola University of Maryland in 2019. Currently, the honored educator is working on her PhD in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University located in Baltimore, Maryland.
Brianna Ross: A true Chalkboard Champion.
Sadly, we report the passing of Kentucky elementary school teacher Stephanie Foster, who succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 11, 2022. Photo credit: Commonwealth Journal
Sadly, the educational community is mourning the loss of yet another beloved teacher. Stephanie Foster, an elementary school teacher from Burnside, Kentucky, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 11, 2022. She was 40 years old.
Stephanie was born on Dec. 30, 1981 in Somerset, Kentucky. As a teenager, she attended Pulaski County High School, where she graduated in 2000. Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree, both from Eastern Kentucky. She earned a second Master’s Degree from the University of the Cumberlands.
The fallen educator taught first grade at Burnside Elementary in the Pulaski County School System. She had been teaching at that school for 15 years. Prior to her assignment at Burnside, she taught for two years at Shopville Elementary.
The loss has been keenly felt throughout the school community. “Those lower primary grades, you do a lot of one-on-one instruction. You’re on the kids’ level,” said District Superintendent Patrick Richardson Richardson. Dr. Jeni Bolander, also a teacher, agreed that the students and their families have been hard-hit by the loss. “Teachers just have the biggest hearts,” she asserted. “They want to see the world be a better place.”
“She was a leader within our school,” recalled Burnside Principal April Mounce. “She served as a grade level representative for many years, was an instructional technology trainer for our new teachers, served as a mentor for new teachers and student teachers…..and provided professional development to other teachers on various topics and programs, Mounce continued.
