Idaho’s Bert Marley: Distinguished teacher, politician, and farmer

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Bert Marley, a long-time educator from Idaho, has also served in both his state’s Senate and House of Representatives. Photo credit: Bert Marley

Many fine educators also make dedicated politicians. This is true of Bert Marley, a high school teacher and farmer who has also served as a state senator in his home state of Idaho.

Bert was born on May 1, 1948, in Provo, Utah. As a young man, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in German from Idaho State University in 1973, and his Master’s degree in Education from Utah State University in 1996.

In 1984, Bert inaugurated his career as a teacher at Marsh Valley High School in Marsh Valley, Bannock County, Idaho. He instructed courses in Social Studies, German, World History, and mythology. His career there spanned 23 years. Many of his former students have said that this distinguished educator sparked their curiosity and thirst for knowledge. In addition to his work in the classroom,  since 1984 Bert has been a member of the Idaho Education Association (IEA). He even served as that organization’s Directory of Public Policy.

As a Democrat, Bert entered politics when he made a bid for a seat representing the 33rd District in the Idaho House of Representatives. He won the election, and served in that body from 1998 to 2001. He extended his career in politics when he was elected to the Idaho State Senate, where he served from 2001 to 2006. There he represented first the 33rd District, and then the 29th District. Bert then served as the Chair of the Idaho State Democratic Party, a position he held from 2015 to 2019.

As if all this were not enough, Bert also owns and runs a family farm in McCammon, Idaho. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this article printed by the IEA.

Alaska teacher and capable politician Mary Becker

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Hardworking and dedicated educator and capable politician Mary Becker of Juneau, Alaska. Photo credit: Alaska Public Media.

Often hardworking and dedicated educators also make fine politicians. This is certainly the case with Mary Becker, a distinguished teacher and politician from Juneau, Alaska.

Mary graduated from Sitka High School, and then she enrolled Albertson College of Idaho, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

After earning her degree, Mary returned to Alaska, where she taught school from 1967 to 1997, a career that spanned 30 years. For her work in the classroom, Mary garnered recognition with the MacKennon Educational Excellence and Human Award.During those years, she served as the President, Chief Negotiator, Building Rep, Political Action Chair, and Grievance Chair for the Juneau Education Association. She has also been a long-time member of the National Education Association.

In addition to her work as an educator, Mary was elected to be a member of the Juneau School Board in 1998, a post she occupied for nine years. During her those years, she served the Board diligently as President, Vice President, and Clerk. Next, the retired educator served in the Assembly for nine years, from 2010 to 2019. During her time in the Assembly, Mary served terms as the city’s  Mayor and Deputy Mayor. In these positions, she served on many committees, including Finance, Committee of the Whole, Chair of the Lands Committee, and Chair of the School Facility Project Team. She was also the Liaison to the Chamber of Commerce, the Docks and Harbors Board, and the UAS Campus Council. From 2015 to 2016, the capable former teacher served as Interim Mayor of the city of Juneau.

In addition to this important work, Mary has been involved in many community improvement efforts. These include Juneau Poetry Out Loud, the Kids Voting Board of Directors, the League of Women Voters, the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, the Seward Statue Committee Co-Chair, the Social Services Advisory Board Chair, the Southeast Alaska Health Education Council, the Juneau Rotary, and the United Way of Southeast Alaska.

 

Pernella Anderson: Teacher and prominent folklorist

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Arkansas teacher Pernella Anderson collected oral histories under the auspices of the Federal Writers’ Project during the 1930’s.

Many talented educators come to be known for accomplishments outside of the classroom. One of these is Pernella Anderson, an elementary teacher who worked in Arkansas and Michigan who was also important as a collector of African American folklore.

Pernella Mae Center Anderson was born April 12, 1903 in Camden, Arkansas. She was the youngest of ten children born to Willis and Sallie (Washington) Center. Her father was a carpenter and her mother was a homemaker.

When Pernella grew up, she married Theodore Haynie, Jr., (circa 1920) and three children were born to the couple. Between 1922-1924, the young mother attended Arkansas Baptist College, where she earned a degree in liberal arts. Evidently, Pernella divorced Theodore and, on April 21, 1931, she married her second husband, William W. Anderson.

In 1935, Pernella accepted a teaching position in Lockesburg in Sevier County, Arkansas. The following year, she went to work for the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP), an organization associated with the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration (WPA). Pernella’s work there included collecting oral histories, some of which were published in the seventeen-volume Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves (1941). Additionally, she collected the folk stories of Black residents ranging in age from 19 to 92. Pernella was one of only two African Americans hired to do this work.

A lifelong learner, Pernella went back to school in 1944 to earn her teaching certificate, and then she completed the requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. From 1953-1955, Pernella taught school at Carver Elementary School in El Dorado in Arkansas’ Union County. In 1955, Pernella moved to Detroit, Michigan, and there she taught in Detroit public schools until the conclusion of her career.

This talented teacher and folklorist passed away on March 5, 1980, in Detroit. She is interred in Westlawn Cemetery in the town of Wayne, Wayne County, Michigan.

You can read more about this remarkable educator at this link: Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. To learn more about the Federal Writers’ Project, click on this link: FWP at the Library of Congress.

Arizona teacher Chris Ackerly served in state House of Reps

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Arizona teacher J. Christopher “Chris” Ackerly is a science and math educator from Tucson, Arizona, who also served in his state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Amphitheater High School.

There are many hardworking educators throughout our country who have also achieved success as politicians. One of these is John Christopher “Chris” Ackerly, a science and math educator who was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives.

Chris was born and raised in Arizona, primarily in the Tucson area. He graduated from Green Fields High School in 1990. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Science from Northern Arizona University in 1999.

After 18 years as an educator, Chris made a bid for elected office. He was elected on the Republican ticket to represent District 2. He served there from 2015 to 2017. While in the Arizona House of Representatives, Chris served as the Chair of the Government and Higher Education Committee; he was a former member of the Committee on Children and Family Affairs; and he was a former member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As a legislator, Chris worked diligently for increased school funding, greater support for more resources for the classroom, an increase in structured sober living homes, and greater support for owners of mobile homes.

Once he left office, Chris returned to his position as a teacher of Physics and Mathematics at Amphitheater High School in Tucson. He has also taught Statistics and Geometry, and K-8 Science and Technology. In addition, Chris serves on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Education Association.

To read more about Chris, see his website at Amphitheater High School.