Marie Poulson: Teacher and member of Utah House of Reps

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Marie Poulson, former high school English and History teacher, has also served her community in the Utah House of Representatives.  Photo credit: mariepoulson.org

Many fine educators go on to distinguished careers in politics. One of these is Marie Poulson, a high school English and History teacher who has also served her community in the Utah House of Representatives.

Marie was born and raised in Springville, Utah. After her graduation from Springville High School, she enrolled at Brigham Young University,  where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in both English and History. She also earned her teacher’s credentials there.

After teaching one year at Provo High School, Marie moved with her husband to first San Francisco, California, and then to Germany. When she returned from Germany in 1990, Marie resumed her career as an educator. She taught English and History first at Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy, then Bingham High School in South Jordan, and finally at Riverton High School in Riverton. Marie’s career in Utah’s public schools has spanned 16 years.

In 2008, the former teacher was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in the Utah House of Representatives to serve the 46th district. She has served in this role since January 1, 2009. During her tenure in the House, the former teacher served on the House Education Committee; the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee; the House Ethics Committee; the Health Reform Task Force; and the House Political Subdivisions Committee. She also served on the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Commission.

In addition to her career as a teacher and her work as a politician, Marie has served as a scout leader, a school volunteer, and a coach. She has also organized canned food drives for the Utah Food Bank and made several trips to New Orleans to aid Hurricane Katrina victims.

Quick-thinking by Michigan teacher Julia Koch saves a life

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When Michigan teacher Julia Koch spoke to the grandparent of one of her students on the telephone, she noticed something alarming in the older woman’s speech. What the teacher did next saved the grandparent’s life. Photo credit: CNN.

When Michigan teacher Julia Koch spoke to the grandparent of one of her students on the telephone during a virtual lesson, she noticed something alarming in the older woman’s speech. What the teacher did next saved the grandparent’s life.

Julia Koch, a first grade teacher at Edgewood Elementary School in Muskeegan Heights, Michigan, was teaching her virtual class on September 22 when she received a call from Cynthia Phillips, the grandparent of one of her students. Cynthia had called to say she was having difficulties with the technology, but during the conversation Julia noticed something alarming about the grandparent’s speech.

“It was clear there was something very wrong,” Julia remembered. “Her words were so jumbled, and I couldn’t understand what she was trying to say. She didn’t sound like herself.” The teacher immediately called her principal, Charlie Lovelady, who then directed a staff member to call 911 while she spoke to Cynthia on the phone.
“I noticed her speech was impaired, and I asked her if she was all right, and she was stumbling over her words and it was getting worse by the minute,” the principal told a reporter from CNN. “I knew the symptoms of a stroke because I lost my father from a stroke, so I told her hold on and immediately got her help.”
An ambulance was dispatched to the student’s home, but Lovelady asked two staff member to drive to the Phillips home to make sure the children were cared for during the medical crisis.
“I would have died if it weren’t for the teacher being so quick and fast about getting me help,” Cynthia said from her hospital bed. “It made me so close to the staff and the principal, even the secretary who hurried to get me on the phone with the principal. They showed up at my house to make sure I’m okay,” she said through her tears. “I thank God I didn’t die in front of my kids.”
Not many educators can say they have helped saved a life. Julia Koch and Charlie Lovelady: Two true Chalkboard Heroes.
To read more about this story, see this link at CNN.

Revisiting Erin Gruwell and The Freedom Writers Diary

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Just about everyone has heard of the best-selling nonfiction book The Freedom Writers Diary, written by high school English teacher Erin Gruwell and her class of inner-city students. This collection of student experiences, which will tug at any teacher’s heart strings, was also depicted in a highly-acclaimed movie starring Hollywood celeb Hilary Swank. I stumbled across this movie again on television just yesterday, and I was reminded once more of the importance a teacher plays in the lives of his or her students, whether they are low income or at-risk or not.

The setting of the story is an inner-city high school located in Long Beach, California. The volume was published in 1999, and it was an instant success. The story line still has relevance for those who are still in the teaching profession today. This book really zeroes in on some of the challenges our kids face when they are not in school, and how much a caring and dedicated teacher can help them overcome those challenges. The movie delves a little more into the personal life of this particular teacher, and aside from the suggestion that you have to work three jobs and give up your marriage to be a good teacher, it’s pretty inspiring. (Nobody could be more hardworking and persevering than teachers wrestling with the pandemic, in my opinion.)

What I think is truly amazing is that many high school students love this book just as much as teachers do! The Freedom Writers Diary is easy to find on amazon and at just about any brick-and-mortar bookstore. Any teacher who can find a few spare hours (I know, that’s impossible, right?) could find this book helpful for inspiration and rejuvenation. Perhaps you know someone who would welcome the book as a Christmas gift! Give it some thought!

Selena Torres: English teacher and member, Nevada State Assembly

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High school English teacher and member of the Nevada State Assembly Selena Torres of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Often excellent classroom teachers also achieve success in the political realm. One teacher who has done this is Selena Torres, an English teacher from Las Vegas, Nevada, who also serves as a member of her State Assembly.

Selena was born and raised in Las Vegas. Her father is an immigrant from El Salvador who came to this country to escape the civil war in his home country. Her mother is also a high school English teacher.

A member of Teach for America, Selena earned her Associate of Arts degree in Spanish from the College of Southern Nevada in 2014 and her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2016. She has been a member of the Kappa Delta Chi Sorority since 2015.

Since 2017, Selena has been employed as an English teacher by the Clark County School District. “In my classroom, I regularly speak with my students about their future after high school,” expressed Selena. “My students are eager to be productive members of our community but are often limited by the skills they are given in the classroom. Additionally, students find it difficult to navigate higher education and trade schools to pursue the career of their dreams,” she continued. “As a Nevada legislator, I continue to be a strong voice for Nevada students and advocate for legislation that puts our students and our future first,” she concluded.

The talented classroom teacher was elected to the Nevada State Assembly on the Democratic ticket.  She has represented District 3, which includes Clark County, since 2018. She is a member of the Education Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Legislative Operations and Elections Committee.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, check out her website at selenatorresnv.com.