New Mexico teacher Chris Sarmiento succumbs to Covid-19

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New Mexico teacher and coach Chris Sarmiento succumbed to Covid-19 on Feb. 19, 2021. He taught at Vista Middle School in Las Cruces. Chris was only 33 years old. Photo credit: KVIA-ABC7.

Sadly, we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Chris Sarmiento, a teacher and coach from Las Cruces, New Mexico, succumbed to the disease on Feb. 19, 2021. He was only 33 years old.

Chris was born on July 17, 1987, in El Paso, Texas. As a young man, he graduated from Jefferson High School in his home town. He earned his Bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from University of Texas, El Paso.

Chris taught social studies to sixth and seventh grades at Vista Middle School. The loss of this teacher and coach will be keenly felt among his students and colleagues, asserts school Principal Mike Brewer. “He was one of those teachers that, if you needed something done, he was one of the first ones that would step up,” Brewer recalls. “It’s going to be a big loss for the Vista family.”

Chris was well-known as more than a teacher and coach to his students. He was also a role model and substitute parent. “He wanted to be a father figure for those kids that didn’t have one,” said his widow, Mary Sarmiento. Mentoring young people was a tradition in his family, she explained. “The reason why he taught is because he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps,” she said. She noted that her husband’s grandfather, Tula Irraboli, was a passionate advocate for children. In El Paso, Irraboli worked to help at-risk youth find motivation to succeed in athletics.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Chris also coached the eighth grade football team. He continued his efforts to mentor his young athletes. “He wanted to tell them it was important to be a good athlete, but also a good student,” his wife said.

Prior to teaching in Las Cruces, Sarmiento taught at Anthony High School in Texas, his wife said. He also tutored at Bowie High School in El Paso and completed his student teaching at Brown Middle School.

To read more about Chris Sarmiento, see this obituary.

Michigan’s Collene Lamonte: Science educator and politician

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Because of their finely-developed leadership skills, many teachers make excellent politicians. One of these is Collene Lamonte, a high school science educator who also served in the Michigan State House of Representatives. Photo credit: Michigan House Democrats.

Because of their finely-developed leadership skills, many classroom teachers make excellent politicians. One of these was Collene Lamonte, a high school math and science educator who also served in the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Collene was raised in a working-class family in Macomb County’s New Baltimore, a suburb north of Detroit. Her father owned and operated Schmid Marina on Anchor Bay of Lake St. Clair, a 300-slip seasonal facility.

Collene earned her Bachelor’s degree in General Science Education, with a minor in Mathematics, from Saginaw Valley Sate University. This institution of higher learning is a public university located in University Center, Michigan. It was founded in 1963 as Saginaw Valley College. During her college years, Colleen was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s List; in fact, she graduated summa cum laude. In addition, she was a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society.

After she earned her degree, Collene taught high school physics and physical science in Muskegon Public Schools from 2007 to 2012, a total of five years. There she developed a hands-on, inquiry-based program with projects, experiments, activities, and research assignments that were designed to stimulate critical thinking skills. Through her instructional program, the innovative teacher improved test scores and student performance on state standardized tests.

In 2012, the former teacher was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Michigan State House of Representatives. There she served the 91st District from 2013 to 2014.. Her committee assignments included the Education Committee, Energy and Technology, and Financial Services.

Today, Collene works as a Field Services Representative for MESSA, the Michigan Education Special Services Association located in East Lansing, Michigan. She has worked in this capacity since 2018.

To learn more about Collene, see her website at Michigan House Democrats.

Former teacher Eileen R. Donovan serves as US Ambassador

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Many fine classroom teachers also establish excellent careers as diplomats. One of these was Eileen Donovan, a teacher from Massachusetts who once served as the American ambassador to Barbados.

Eileen was born in Boston. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Boston Teachers College in 1936. She earned her Master’s degree in Education in 1937. In addition, Eileen attended Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration, an institution now known as the John F. Kennedy School of Government. There she became a foreign Service Institute Fellow, and she earned a Master’s degree of Public Administration.

From 1938 to 1943, Eileen worked as a history teacher in the Boston Public Schools. During World War II, the intrepid educator joined the Women’s Air Corps. “I went down to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and trained and was lucky enough to be sent to the Officer Candidate School in Des Moines, came out as a 2nd Lieutenant,” Eileen once remembered. “Then I did various things in this country, like teaching at Oglethorpe such
fascinating subjects as Military Customs and Courtesies and Articles of War and things
like that.” She also served as the primary assistant to General Douglas MacArthur at the Tokyo headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

The former educator began her career in the Foreign Service in 1948, serving in the Philippines, Italy, and Japan, where she was a political liaison officer. In the late 1950’s she became chief of the Southern Europe branch of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research within the State Department.

From 1965 to 1969, Eileen served as Assistant Director of the State Department’s Office of Caribbean Affairs before her assignment to Barbados as Ambassador. With that assignment, she became the highest ranking woman in the Foreign Service. She served as the American Ambassador to Barbados from 1969 to 1974.

This remarkable educator and diplomat passed away from cardio-respiratory arrest on Dec. 19, 1996, in Spring Hill, Florida. She was 81 years old. To read more about this chalkboard Champion, read this interview published by The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, Women Ambassadors Series.

 

Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbs to Covid-19

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Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 19, 2021. She passed away just one day after her husband of 33 years. Photo credit: IndyStar

With great sadness we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Ann Grissom-Wilkins, a public school teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 9, 2021. She was just 59 years old.

Ann was born in 1961 in Detroit, Michigan. As a young girl, she attended Cass Technical High School in her home city. After her high school graduation in 1979, she attended Butler University, a private university located in Indianapolis.

The fallen educator had taught for 13 years in Indiana Public Schools. During those years, she also worked for local teachers’ unions, the Indiana State Teachers Association and for the Indiana Education Association.

According to family and friends, Ann was always promoting public school education. “She (was) deeply committed to her profession and her fellow educators,” recalled Indianpolis Public Schools Superintendent Alessia Johnson. “I think what she did well was holding everyone to account, because at the end of the day, her goal was kids were getting served as well.”

Since last March, the couple tried to do everything they could not to get sick. Family members said the couple were very careful because Ronald was a diabetic and Ann had recently completed radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Despite all their precautions, both became ill and were hospitalized with a diagnosis of Covid-19. Ronald passed away on Jan. 8, and Ann succumbed one day later. Heartbroken family members note that Ann and Ronald had met as youngsters, while both were students at Indianapolis Public School #43. The couple had been married for 33 years, and they had three children.

To read more about this hardworking and dedicated teacher, see her story published by WRTV Indianapolis.

Jim Johnson of Eastvale, CA, earns prestigious SCSBOA award

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Music educator Jim Johnson (left) of Eastvale, California, has just earned the 2021 Veteran Teacher Award from the Southern California School Bands and Orchestra Association.. Photo credit: Jim Johnson.

I always enjoy sharing the stories of superlative educators who have earned accolades for their work with young people. One of these is Jim Johnson, a music educator from Eastvale, California. Jim has just been named the recipient of the 2021 Veteran Teacher Award by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA).

The Veteran Teacher Award is awarded  to teachers who have made an extraordinary contribution to local music education, and who have taught 20 years or more. In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Jim has taught band and orchestra at all levels, including elementary school, junior high school, high school, and college. Currently, he serves as the Director of Bands and Color Guard for Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS), a public high school located in the Corona Norco Unified School District. There he instructs over 250 student musicians in marching band and orchestra ensembles.

Before working at ERHS, Jim directed music programs at Travis Ranch Middle School in Yorba Linda, CA;  Palm Springs High School in Palm Springs, CA; Rancho Cucamonga High School in Racncho Cucamonga, CA; and Esperanza High School in Anaheim, CA. “Every position Jim Johnson has taken on has resulted in success for students and schools,” reads the SCSBOA announcement of his award.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Jim has also served as an SCSBOA Field and Parade adjudicator and as a member of the music list committee. He has hosted field show tournaments and solo and ensemble festivals. He has also supported the honor groups as a manager of the All-Southern Jazz Honor Band.

Congratulations, Jim! To read more about this superlative music educator, see this link to CNUSD.