Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm: Teacher, counselor, and politician

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Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm of Texas: Elementary school teacher, high school counselor, and politician extraordinaire. Photo credit: Molly Beth Malcolm

Many fine educators become equally successful politicians. This is the case with Molly Beth Malcolm, a former elementary schoolteacher and counselor who once became the Chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party.

Molly was born on April 26, 1955. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Methodist University and her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A&M University, Texarkana. She completed the requirements for her Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a Concentration in Community College Leadership (CCLP) from The University of Texas, Austin.

Once she earned her degrees, Molly inaugurated her career as an elementary and kindergarten teacher. Between 1977 and 1984, she taught in public schools in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. She also worked as an elementary school counselor in Texarkana, as part of the Arkansas School System. Later she worked as the high school Counseling and Student Services Coordinator at Texas High School in the Texarkana Independent School District (1984-1989). There she also served as the Sophomore Class Counselor. Throughout her career in public schools, Molly has worked to improve public and higher education as a teacher, counselor, and coordinator of school counseling and drug free schools programs.

In addition to her work in schools, Molly has also made her mark in politics. In 1998, she was elected as the former Chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party. She was re-elected to the position in 2000 and 2002. Additionally, she is a former secretary of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees. Currently she serves as a member of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees in Texarkana.

For her work in the classroom, Molly has earned many accolades. She was named the Winnsboro High School Distinguished Alumna in Winnsboro, East Texas, in 2010. She has also been recognized with the Texarkana NAACP Torchbearer Award for Extraordinary Community Contributions; the Texarkana Martin Luther King Jr. Acts of Kindness Leadership Award; the Texarkana Community Journal Outstanding Woman Award; and the Four States Living Magazine Tribute to Women Award.

To learn more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see her website at Molly Beth Malcolm.

 

Mary Miranda Knight of Washington state: A true pioneer

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Mary Miranda Knight of Washington state was a true pioneer. She served as the Superintendent of Schools in Mason County. Photo credit: William Knight.

Many intrepid pioneers in American history were also talented educators. One of these was Mary Miranda Knight, a teacher who earned accolades as an innovative teacher in the state of Washington.

Mary was born on Sept. 2, 1854, in Ingham County in southern Michigan. She was one of seven children born to immigrants from Scotland. During her youth, her parents moved from Michigan to Dakota, and then to Washington State.

Mary was just a high school student when she declared her intention to become a teacher. She was 16 years old when she realized her dream and stood in front of her first classroom. Originally, she taught in Eaton Falls, Michigan, next in Huron, Dakota, and later in the cities of Shelton and Bellingham in Washington State. Her career as an educator spanned the years from 1870 to 1921, a total of 51 years.

In 1900, the talented teacher was elected to serve as the Superintendent of Schools in Mason County, Washington. She served in this position for 18 years. During her tenure, Mary worked diligently to consolidate the five small school districts along the Western border of Mason County. Mary believed that one large school district could offer students greater educational opportunities than five small school districts could. The new school district was built in 1924, and was named Mary M. Knight School District #311 in her honor.

For her work in Washington schools, Mary was recognized with a school named in her after her, the Mary M. Knight High School. The school was built in the unincorporated area of Matlock, Washington.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on Jan. 31, 1940, in Seattle, following a lengthy illness. She was 86 years old. To learn more about her, see this online biography entitled Mary M Knight School District 311.

 

New York teacher Ntina Paleos-Stemas succumbs to Covid-19

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Sadly, beloved New York English teacher Ntina Paleos-Stemas succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 30, 2021. Photo credit: www.liherald.com.

Sadly, we report that yet another beloved educator has succumbed to Covid-19. Ntina Paleos-Stemas, a high school Enbglish teacher from New York, succumbed to the disease on January 30, 2021. She was 55 years old.

Ntina was originally from Greece, but she was raised in Baldwin, New York. As a young girl, she graduated from Baldwin High School. Ntina discovered her passion for teaching at schools in Switzerland and Argentina. She then accepted a teaching position in the Hewlitt-Woodmere Public School District in 1998. In that district, she taught first at the Franklin Early Childhood Center, then at Ogden Elementary School, and then at Woodmere Middle School before finally landing at Hewlett High School, where she taught for the last 22 years.

Fluent in several languages, including English, Greek, Spanish, and French, Ntina helped establish the district’s first English as a Second Language summer program. She taught academics and exposed the students to the culture of a world languages through educational trips.

Ntina will be sorely missed by both colleagues and students. “She dedicated her career to our ENL families, and was well-known for her caring, compassionate teaching style and staunch advocacy for her cherished students,” recalled Hewlitt-Woodmere Superintendent Marino. “Ms. Paleos-Stemas’ love for her students extended far beyond the halls of Hewlett-Woodmere, as she remained in contact with them for many years after graduation.”

Fellow teacher Caryn Bachar agreed. She remembered that Ntina was a positive and supportive force in the lives of her students. “Ntina dedicated her career to educating English Language Learners and advocated for them in school and in their lives,” Bachar said. “Many of her students stayed in touch with her long after graduation. She was invited to their graduations, weddings, and the births of their children.”

When not in the classroom, Ntina loved to spend her time with her children, family members, and friends. She also loved to travel to experience other cultures, and spent much time in her native homeland of Greece.

To read more about Ntina, see this obituary published by liherald.com.

William Spaulding: Teacher, politician, and dedicated public servant

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Washington, DC’s William Spaulding: Exemplary teacher, engineer, accomplished politician, and dedicated public servant. Photo credit: Historical Council Photographs.

Many fine educators have also earned distinction in the political realm. One of these is William Spaulding, a teacher who was elected as a member of the inaugural Council of the District of Columbia when Washington, DC, earned home rule.

William was born on June 15, 1924, in North Carolina. William attended Howard University, a traditionally Black institution of higher learning located in Washington, DC. There he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Once he earned his degree, William taught school in DC public schools. His career there spanned from 1947 to 1952. He also taught at Howard University from 1950 to 1960. In addition, during that period he served as an engineer at the National Security Agency (NSA) from 1952 to 1974.

When Congress passed the District of Columbia home rule bill, the former public school teacher left his position with the NSA. He was elected on the Democratic ticket to a seat on the newly-formed DC Council, where he served from 1975 to 1987.

In 1980, William became a professor at the University of the District of Columbia, another historically Black college. He also served as the Chairman of the Fort Lincoln Foundation, a Board member of the Kidney Foundation, and a member of the American Heart Association. He also served as the Director of the Department of Administrative Services for the District of Columbia Court System.

In 2013, the University of the District of Columbia conferred upon William an honorary doctorate, in recognition of his nearly 60 years of “dedicated service to DC Public Schools and other organizations on behalf of the city’s youth, reflecting his unwavering support of education as a means of improving individual lives and the whole community.” To read the entire proclamation, see this link: Conferral of Honorary Degree.