Educator, veteran Demetrius Ball shares Memorial Day lessons

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Educator and US Army veteran Demetrius Ball shares lessons about his experiences in the military as part of the school’s Memorial Day observance.  Photo Credfit: PBS News Hour.

Like many teachers around on the country on this Memorial Day, educator and military veteran Demetrius Ball will probably be sharing lessons about the holiday with their students. And Demetrius has a lot to share, since he, himself, is a military veteran.

Demetrius served five years of active duty in the US Army as a field artillery officer, completing tours of duty in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, and Kuwait from 2005 to 2007. He left the military in 2007, having achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Once he concluded his military service, Demetrius launched his career as a Social Studies teacher. He spent his first three years in Tracy, California, then five years in Baltimore City and Howard County in Maryland, and then returned to California. He currently serves as the principal of Iron Horse Middle School in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.

Through it all, he has been willing to share stories about his experiences in the military. “My first year teaching I decided to put together a presentation titled A Soldier’s Experience,” remembers Demetrius. “I take an entire class period to share my military experience with my students. The last few years I have worn my Dress Blue or Green uniform. I discuss the difficult transition that I had adapting to life as a cadet, like struggling to qualify on the range with an M16 rifle, not feeling prepared for the academic rigor, and even failing my first class ever,” he continued. “I describe my job as a field artillery officer, and the variety of missions I conducted on deployment in Iraq,” he concludes. You can read more about this Chalkboard Champion’s military experience by reading this article published by PBS News Hour.

Naturally, Demetrius takes military holidays very seriously. “When we acknowledge Veterans Day, and Memorial Day, especially, I think of all the men and women who served with energy, bravery and commitment, and gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. Including the freedom to teach and learn,” expressed Demetrius. We thank you for that, Demetrius.

Demetrius earned his Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Engineering from United States Military Academy at West Point in 2002. He earned his Master’s degree in Secondary Education at the University of Phoenix in 2008. He is currently working on his Ph.D. from Liberty University.

 

Retired teacher Rita Hart served in Iowa State Senate

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Retired junior and high school English teacher Rita Hart served her community in the Iowa State Senate. Photo credit: Rita Hart.

Many fine classroom teachers also become successful politicians. One of these is Rita Hart, a retired junior and high school English teacher who also served in the Iowa State Senate.

Rita was born on May 5, 1956, in Charles City, Iowa. Her parents owned a dairy farm. As a young woman, she earned her Associate of Arts degree from North Iowa Area Community College. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master’s degree from the University of Iowa.

Once she completed her education, Rita inaugurated her career as a public school teacher in the Bennett Community School in Bennett, Iowa. She  taught junior and high school English for two decades at rural high schools in Eastern Iowa.

In 2012, Rita was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Iowa state’s 49th Senate District. She was one of the rare politicians who enjoyed bi-partisan support. She served in her state’s Senate from 2013 to 2019. While there, Rita served on the Committees for Education; Veterans Affairs; Local Government; and Agriculture. She also served on the Early Childhood Iowa State Board; the Human Rights Board; and the Prevention of Disabilities Policy Council.

In addition to her work as a teacher and politician, Rita has worked as an international exchange coordinator at the Education First Foundation for Foreign Study. She also became Director of Community Relations at Pangaea International Academy in 2019.  She also serves her community as a liaison for the Keep Iowa Beautiful branch of Hometown Pride Committees. And as if all that were not enough, Rita is also a talented singer, being in demand as a soloist for weddings, funerals, and other events.

Today, Rita, who is now 65 years old, lives with her husband on her family’s farm in Wheatland, Iowa. To learn more about this chalkboard Champion, click on this link to the University of Iowa Archives of Women’s Political Communication.

English teacher and successful novelist Sara Hawks Sterling

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English teacher and successful novelist Sara Hawks Sterling of Pennsylvania wrote popular works about well-known figures of European history and legend. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many a talented classroom educator has also achieved acclaim as an author. One of these is Sara Hawks Sterling, a high school English teacher from Pennsylvania who became a successful novelist. Her published works include popular fiction tales about well-known figures of European history and legend.

Sara was born in Philadelphia. As a young woman, she attended schools in her home town, including the Girls’ High and Normal School and the M. M. Jones’ School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1918.

Once she earned her degree, Sara inaugurated her career as a teacher of English at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, where she worked from 1906 to 1912. She left that position to teach at the West Philadelphia High School for Girls. During her years as a professional educator, she became a member of the Women Teachers’ Organization.

While teaching, Sara published many novels about historical and legendary figures, including King Arthur, Robin Hood, and Anne Hathaway. Her novel entitled Shakespeare’s Sweetheart, published in 1905, was an early effort to portray William Shakespeare’s life and romances from the woman’s perspective. In 1900, Sara published Hamlet’s Brides: A Shakespearean Burlesque in One Act. In 1907, she wrote A lady of King Arthur’s Court: Being a Romance of the Holy Grail. In 1921, she published Robin Hood and His Merry Men.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities and her writing, Sara was a member of the Browning Society of Philadelphia, the Dickens Fellowship, the Shakespeare Company, and the Women’s Press Association.

You can read the most popular novels by Sara Hawks Sterling online for free at the following link to the Online Books Page.

 

William H. J. Beckett: PE teacher, coach, and humanitarian

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William H. J. Beckett (shown at right), exemplary PE teacher, coach, and humanitarian, was awarded a Tarbell Medallion from Springfield  College in 1947. Photo courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections.

I always enjoy sharing stories about exemplary physical education teachers and talented athletic coaches. One of these is William H. J. Beckett, a football coach and humanitarian from St. Louis, Missouri who earned a Tarbell Medallion from Springfield College.

William Henry Jackson Beckett was born in 1882. As a young man, he attended college in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the International YMCA Training School, now known as Springfield College. When he graduated in 1906, he was the first African American person to be awarded a Bachelor’s degree from Springfield College. William earned his Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1917, William accepted a position as the Head Football Coach at Howard University, a historically Black college located in Washington, DC. Later, William became the first full-time Athletic Director at the school.  During World War I, the hardworking and accomplished physical education instructor served as a lieutenant and physical education director for the Officers’ Training Camp for Colored Men in Des Moines, Iowa.

In 1919, William accepted a position to teach physical education at Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri. His career there spanned 35 years, until his retirement in 1954. During these years, he also worked as a physical education director at YMCAs in St. Louis. There he was affectionately known as “Pops.”

In 1947, William earned the school’s Tarbell Medallion in 1947. The award is presented to Springfield College alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service over a period of time to his or her alma mater. Since 2014, Springfield College has offered a William Beckett Teacher Preparation Scholarship, which offers one full-tuition and fees scholarship per year to a graduating student of color from Springfield Public Schools who is preparing to become a teacher of Pre-K through grade 12.

Sadly, William succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage on March 15, 1954. He was 71 years old. To read more, see his obituary published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Teacher and former First Lady of New Jersey Mary Jo Codey

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Elementary school teacher and indefatigable women’s health activist Mary Jo Codey is the former First Lady of New Jersey.  Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many times gifted and active educators find themselves immersed in the world of politics. This is certainly the case with Mary Jo Codey, an elementary schoolteacher who once served as the First Lady of New Jersey. Mary Jo served her state during the administration of her husband, Governor Richard Codey, a Democrat who was in office from 2004 to 2006. Governor Codey took office upon the resignation of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey.

Mary Jo was born on August 14, 1955, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and was raised in West Orange. After her high school graduation, she enrolled in Caldwell College, where she earned first her Bachelor’s degree and then her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She has also earned certification as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC) from Seton Hall University.

Once her husband took office, Mary Jo taught part time. Simultaneously she served as the ambassador for the Governor’s Book Club, which encouraged reading and literacy skills among elementary school children. This position gave her an opportunity to visit schools all over the state and read aloud to children. She also worked tirelessly to promote awareness for women’s mental health issues, particularly postpartum depression and breast cancer.

After her husband left office, Mary Jo accepted a teaching position at a private elementary school in West Orange, New Jersey.

Throughout her career, Mary Jo has contributed to a wide variety of causes. When her sons were young, she was active in Cub Scouts as a den mother and in her children’s school parent teacher associations. She is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Essex County, which honored her for her mental health advocacy efforts in 1995. Mary Jo also served as the first facilitator for a postpartum depression support group that was established at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 1994 and continues to operate today. Currently, she is an active member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this biography of her at the official website for the state of New Jersey.