Principal Dr. Quentin Lee uses MC Hammer parody to teach covid-safe behaviors

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An educator who puts extra thought and creativity into their instruction is always very exciting. One educator who practices this is Dr. Quentin Lee, the principal of Childersburg High School, a public high school located in Childersburg, Talladega County, Alabama. He created a back-to-school video in the form of an MC Hammer parody that is causing an internet sensation.

Quentin wanted to find an innovative way to convey covid-safe expectations to students, who will be returning to school during the current coronavirus pandemic. The principal, a former band director, used his musical talents to write and record a parody of MC Hammer’s 1990 classic, “U Can’t Touch This.” The purpose of the parody is to remind students to engage in extra hygiene practices and safe distancing protocols. The video shows Quentin rapping, wielding a no-contact thermometer and bottles of hand sanitizer, and performing the “Running Man,” all while demonstrating the covid-safe behaviors expected of students when they return to school.

“Basically, I just really wanted to do something fun for back-to-school to kind of reinforce a lot of the new things we’re having to do,” explained Quentin. “I like making little silly videos for the kids, just to kind of get them excited about school. I wanted to do something to help promote the community,” he continued.

The innovative principal posted the video to YouTube early last week. The recording has become an instant internet success, and has even been featured on numerous television news broadcasts.

Quentin earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2005. He earned his Master’s degree from Sanford University in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2010. He earned his PhD in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2017. He taught music at Talladega County Central High School from 2006 to 2012. He is starting his fourth year as principal at Childersburg.

Chalkboard Champion and Civil War heroine Charlotte Forten Grimke

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Here is a short video below by author and retired teacher Terry Lee Marzell. She describes a remarkable Civil War-era teacher, Charlotte Forten Grimke. This Chalkboard champion, born into a free Black family, went to the South to teach emancipated slaves, even though the Civil War was raging all around her. Watch to learn more:

Ohio’s Debbie Grashin earns Amazon Future Engineers Teacher of the Year Award

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Debbie Grashin of Columbus, Ohio, was named one of ten Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year award.

This year, ten amazing teachers from around the country have garnered an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award from Amazon. One of these is Debbie Grashin in Columbus, Ohio. This is the first year Amazon has award the prestigious award.

Debbie teaches computer science and math at KIPP High School. KIPP stands for the Knowledge is Power Program, a national network of public charter schools that opened a middle school in Columbus in 2008, followed by a high school in 2016. KIPP schools focus on educating students from under-served communities and preparing them for success in college. Debbie is a big believer in the program. “I liked the idea of being a part of something that was building and being able to work from the ground up,” she declared. “I liked their mission that they are creating a college prep-like school for students in communities where their local public school choice is just not a very good option for them.”

Debbie says she feels a great deal of gratitude for the Amazon award. “It means so much to me to know that the work I have been doing to build a growing computer science department for my students, who are traditionally underrepresented in CS fields, is valued by Amazon and the larger community,” she remarked. “I am grateful for the Amazon Future Engineers program for the work you do to increase access to computer science education for students from under-served communities,” she concluded.

Each of the ten honored educators received a prize package valued at over $50,000 to be used to benefit his or her school and students. Of that, Amazon donated $25,000 in school supplies, including Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets, classroom essentials from AmazonBasics, and additional items from Amazon Essentials. Award recipients also received one full year of Amazon Music Unlimited and a 12-month Audible.com Gold Gift Membership. Debbie and her fellow award-winners also received a $200 Amazon gift card to celebrate her hard work.

To read more about Debbie Grashin, see this online story at Columbus Parent.

Tadashi Tsufura: The beloved NYC educator from a WWII Japanese internment camp

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New York City math teacher and principal Tadashi Tsufura spent several years of his childhood in a WWII Japanese internment camp.

There are many talented educators who are stellar teachers largely because they have overcome tough personal circumstances themselves. One of these was Tadashi Tsufura, a math teacher and principal in New York City who spent several years of his childhood in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Tadashi was born on September 17, 1930, in Los Angeles, California. He was the third son of a Buddhist minister and a teacher who immigrated to the United States from Japan.

The youngster’s life changed dramatically on December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Empire of Japan. Prejudice against Japanese people living in the United States ran high, and even the US government was guilty of racial profiling. On his 12th birthday, Tadashi and his family were forced by the United States to move to one of the two Gila River internment camps located in a desert valley in Arizona. They were among approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry who were interned during the war. Many of those interned were American citizens.

As a young man, Tadashi determined to serve his country in the military. He enlisted in the Army in 1951 and fought on the front lines of the Korean War from until 1953. After his discharge, Tadashi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Fenn College. The college is now known as Cleveland State University.

Although Tadashi enjoyed success as a chemical engineer, he was not happy in his work. He moved to New York City where his brother was living. Because the city was experiencing a shortage of educators, the scientist decided to try teaching. He completed education courses at Brooklyn College and then accepted a position as a math teacher at two schools in Manhattan.

Before long, Tadashi was promoted to the position of principal of PS 41 in Greenwich Village, where he worked for eight years. Then he was promoted to the position of Deputy Superintendent of District 3 on the Upper West Side. He retired in 1988.

Sadly, Tadashi Tsufura passed away from coronavirus on March 29, 2020, in New York City. He was 89 years old. To read more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see this link at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose.