Ohio’s Hazel Mountain Walker; Educator and pioneer lawyer

Posted on by

Ohio teacher Hazel Mountain Walker was one of the first African American women to pass the bar in her state.

Many fine educators also earn acclaim in fields outside of the classroom. One of these is Hazel Mountain Walker, a teacher from Ohio who was among the first African American women to pass the bar in her state. She was also an activist for racial integration in her city.

Hazel was born on February 16, 1889, in Warren, Ohio. As a young woman, she graduated from Cleveland Normal Training School. After her graduation, she inaugurated her career by accepting her first teaching job at Mayflower Elementary School in 1909. She taught elementary school for a total of 27 years, from 1909 to 1936. During those years, the experienced educator earned a law degree from the Baldwin Wallace College in 1919. The same year, she was admitted to the bar in the state of Ohio. Instead of practicing as an attorney, she decide to provide educational services to the juvenile courts.

Later, Hazel earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1939 and her Master’s degree in Education in 1941, both from Western Reserve University. Even after earning her law degree, she continued to her work in fields related to education, including serving as the principal for a number of elementary schools.

Throughout her lengthy professional life, Hazel was a sought-after speaker on race relations in her city. She was appointed to the Cleveland Womanpower Committee to advise on the integration of African American women into the war-time work force. In 1960, she was honored by the Urban League of Greater Cleveland for serving as an officer for its forerunner, the Negro Welfare League. Hazel was also active in the Cuyahoga County Republican Party, the Women’s City Club, and at Karamu House, an organization that worked, in part, to achieve racial integration. In fact, Karamu House inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2007 to honor her for 25 years of service on its board.

Hazel Mountain Walker retired from the teaching profession in 1958. After her retirement, she served two years on the Ohio State Board of Education. This Chalkboard Champion passed away on May 16, 1980, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was 91 years old. To read more about this amazing educator and activist, see her biography at the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

North Carolina teacher Jessica Embry gives life to save children

Posted on by

Sadly, we report that North Carolina music teacher Jessica Embry gave her life rescuing two children from a treacherous rip tide at the beach. Photo credit: New Hanover County Schools.

We know that many teachers are so dedicated to students that they would even risk their own lives to save or protect their kids. Tragically, one North Carolina teacher gave her life in an attempt to save two children when they were caught in a treacherous rip tide at the beach on April 18, 2021. That teacher was Jessica Embry, a music educator at Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The children were caught in a rip current while swimming at Kure Beach in southeastern North Carolina. In an attempt to rescue the children, members of the Kure Beach Fire Department and several bystanders, including the teacher, entered the water. They were able to successfully bring the children to shore, said police. But in the rescue process, Jessica suffered cardiac arrest. Aid was administered at the scene, but attempts to revive the beloved educator were unsuccessful.

Jessica was born on February 23, 1981, and raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia. As a youngster, she had a reputation for being an excellent swimmer. started her career at Ashley High in the New Hanover County School District in 2010, and became a full-time staff member in 2012. She previously taught orchestra at Myrtle Grove Middle School in New Hanover School District, and Lumberton Junior and Senior High Schools in Robeson County, North Carolina.

“She approached every day as a challenge to be a better person and to help more people in the process. She will be greatly missed,” asserted Jacki Booth, Arts Director of New Hanover County Schools. Patrick McCarty, Principal of Ashley High School, agreed. “There are no words I can offer to express how profound this loss is for our school and community,” he said. McCarty remembered that Jessica inaugurated a group that paired her orchestra students with special-needs students to help the latter learn how to play music. The group even played the National Anthem during Brunswick County’s most recent Special Olympics event.

To read more about this Chalkboard Hero, see this story written about her published by WWAY.

 

West Virginia’s Ginny Starcher: Educator and politician

Posted on by

West Virginia’s Ginny Starcher was an exemplary educator and also an accomplished politician. Photo credit: Charleston Gazette Mail.

In our country’s history, there are many examples of fine classroom educators who also became excellent politicians. One of these was Ginny Starcher, a teacher from West Virginia who also served in her state’s House of Delegates.

Ginny, whose birth name was Virginia, was born on February 23, 1930, in Wheeling, West Virginia. As a youngster, she attended schools in Cameron, West Virginia. Following her high school graduation she enrolled at West Virginia University. After earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, Ginny taught at Ripley High School in Ripley, West Virginia. Later she taught at Schenectady High School in New York.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Ginny also worked for the Federal government. For a while she was employed at the Central Intelligence Agency. She also worked for the Library of Congress. Later, she served as a commissioner for Jackson County in her home state. In 1986, Virginia was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates on the Democratic ticket. There she represented the 11th District, which included Jackson County. In 1988 she was elected to a second term, and once she served that term, she retired. Ginny was the first woman elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Jackson County.

In addition to her work as an educator and politician, Ginny also served as the President of Jackson General Hospital Auxiliary, as a member of the Board of the Jackson County Library, and as a member of the Board of the Health Department Board. She also belonged to the Pilot Club, the Jackson County Democrat Woman’s Club, and the Ripley Garden Club.

This accomplished educator and politician passed away on December 19, 2012, at Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston, West Virginia, following a lengthy illness. She was 82 years of age. To learn more about Ginny Starcher, see this obituary published by Tribute Archive.

Utah’s John Arthur named finalist for National Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

John Arthur, an elementary school teacher from Utah, has been named one of four finalists for 2021 National Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Utah State Board of Education.

I always enjoy sharing stories about educators that have earned accolades for their hard work in the classroom. One of these is John Arthur, a teacher from Utah who has been named one of four finalists for 2021 National Teacher of the Year.

Currently, John teaches sixth grade at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City. He has taught there for eight years. John garnered widespread attention through teaching his students to create music videos that they share on the class YouTube channel, 9thEvermore. John’s students have received national recognition for their work. “I feel so blessed,” says the honored teacher. “Children are the best people and teaching is the best job. There’s just no better way to spend a day than working with kids,” he continued.

In addition to his classroom responsibilities, John has chaired the social justice committee for the Salt Lake Education Association. As a Korean American, he currently represents the Asian community on the Utah State Board of Education’s advisory committee on equity. He is also helping revise Utah’s K-6 social studies standards. John has been a speaker at numerous conferences, including the National Association for Multicultural Education, the Utah Education Association, and the Open Education Resources Project. He also delivered the keynote speech at the 2018 Leadership and Inquiry for Turnaround Conference. Furthermore, John serves as an Adjunct Professor in Graduate School of Education at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

John graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in History. He earned two Master’s degrees, one in Teaching and the other in Education from Westminster College. In addition, he has earned endorsements in English as a Second Language and K-6 Special Education (mild/moderate disabilities). He is a National Board Certified Teacher.

New Jersey’s Ethel De Long Zande founder of settlement schools

Posted on by

New Jersey English teacher Ethel De Long Zande helped establish a settlement school in rural Appalachia to educate mountain children. She is seen here with a mountain dulcimer. Photo credit: Pine Mountain Settlement House Collections.

Throughout American history, many fine educators have worked tirelessly to advance the cause of progressive education. One of these was Ethel De Long Zande, a teacher from New Jersey who helped establish a settlement school in rural Appalachia in the early 20th century. The school was established to educate mountain children.

Ethel was born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1879. When she was young, her father and younger sister were disabled, and Ethel became their caregiver. As a teenager, her family moved to Northampton, New Jersey, and Ethel enrolled at nearby Smith College, where she attended from 1897 to 1901. She earned her Bachelor’s degree there. During her college years, she worked as a tutor and a teacher at Easthampton High School.

Once she earned her degrees, Ethel worked as a teacher at Central High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her career there spanned five years. In 1905, she relocated to Indianapolis, where she taught English at Manual Training High School for five years. It was then that Ethel was appointed principal of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union Settlement School in Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky. The school was later known as the Hindman Settlement School. In 1912, Ethel became one of the founding members of the Pine Mountain Settlement School located in rural Harlan County, Kentucky. There she established a reputation for creating especially stimulating lessons, asking her students to write and read letters, and to engage in lively conversation, discussion, and debate.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this biography about her printed in Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections.