I love to share stories about plucky teachers, and in the short video below I share some information about a really plucky teacher from the American Southwest: Eulalia Bourne. Watch the video to learn more about her.
Educator, suffragist, and community activist Sadie Adams of Chicago, Illinois
Educator, suffragist, and community activist Sadie Adams of Chicago, Illinois.
Many hardworking educators dedicate their expertise and energy towards improving the lives of all Americans. One of these was Sadie Adams, a school teacher from Virginia who also worked towards securing the vote for women.
Sadie was born in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia, on February 24, 1872, just seven years after the end of the Civil War. She was one of three children born to William and Fanny (Moseby) Lewis. Sadie attended public schools in Staunton. After her high school graduation, she enrolled in Hartshorn Memorial College located in Richmond, Virginia. She earned her teaching certificate at Hartshorn.
After her college graduation, Sadie inaugurated her career as an educator in the Staunton Public School system. Her work as a teacher continued until she married James P. Adams in 1892. The union produced three children.
Once her children were grown, the couple moved to Chicago in 1910. Once settled there, Sadie launched herself into community improvement activities. She served as the recording secretary for the Home Missionary Society, and did volunteer work at Provident Hospital, where she weighed and recorded vital statistics on infants. She served as the treasurer of Chicago’s Inter-Racial Cooperative Committee, an organization which conducted fundraising to support the Amanda Smith Industrial School for Girls located in Harvey, Illinois. In fact, Sadie was one of the founders of that school. Later she served as a trustee on that institution’s school board.
When World War I erupted, Sadie’s only son enlisted in the military. While her son was abroad fighting on the front lines, the former teacher volunteered at the State Council of Defense, an organization that enlisted women to aid in the war effort.
Once the war was over, Sadie threw her energy into earning the right to vote for women. She served on Chicago’s Election Board, and she was one of the founders of the Douglas League of Women Voters. In 1916, the Alpha Suffrage Club, the first African American suffrage organization in Chicago, selected her to serve as their delegate to the National Equal Rights League Conference. In addition, Sadie was elected president of the Chicago and Northern District Association of Colored Women’s Clubs in 1921. She served in this capacity until 1934. In April, 1922, Sadie was selected y the National League of Women Voters to be a delegate at the convention of the Pan-American Congress. When she attended the gathering in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the only African American delegate to represent Illinois.
This remarkable educator passed away on July 30, 1945, at the age of 73. She is interred at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois.
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Elementary teacher and 2018 Milken Award winner Chad Downs of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Elementary school teacher and 2018 Milken Award winner Chad Downs of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Our students are very lucky to have so many talented educators staffing our public schools. These hardworking individuals work tirelessly to develop innovative and effective instructional programs, and they genuinely care about their students. One of these is Chad Downs, a third and fourth grade teacher from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since eighth grade,” Chad confesses. “A lot of my family are teachers, so going to family get-togethers, there’s a lot of talking shop,” he says. “I spend a lot of time thinking about school and really making a difference and impacting students,” Chad reveals.
Chad earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2003 from Eastern Michigan University, and his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in 2008. He currently works at Ann Arbor Open School in Ann Arbor. An open school is defined as a public progressive school that offers an emphasis on the Common Core standards, building relationships with students and their families, and a focus on critical thinking skills.
In his classroom, Chad emphasizes project-based learning, real-life experiences, individually tailored instruction, and parent involvement. Chad encourages his students to direct their own studies and track their own progress. In addition, he invites guest speakers to come to his room and talk about their careers, and he organizes field trips to nearby cities and museums. He asks his students to write letters home every week that summarize their achievement and keep their parents informed. He also likes to play games with his kids.
Within his school, Chad has served in several leadership roles, including Co-Curricular Director and Athletic Director. He works on a committee that plans an annual professional development conference, an overnight event held offsite every March for the past 37 years. The conference, which is led by educators for educators, offers presentations by experts on topics of interest, and provides opportunities for conversation about struggles and successes.
The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Chad is one of up to 40 educators, and the only one from Michigan, who received the Milken Educator Award for the 2018-2019 year. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.
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Middle school math teacher and politician Susan Bauman
Middle school math teacher and politician Susan Bauman.
There are many fine teachers who earn a name for themselves in careers outside the sphere of education. One of these is Susan Bauman, a middle school mathematics teacher who also has an exemplary career as a lawyer, and who also served as the first woman mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.
Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1965, and her Master’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1966. She completed the requirements for her teaching certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1970.
Susan inaugurated her career as an educator when she became a middle school mathematics teacher in the Madison Public School System in 1970. She taught there for eight years. During this time, she was elected President of her local teachers’ union, Madison Teachers Incorporated.
When Susan decided to move on from her career as an educator, she earned a law degree at the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1981. She served 12 years as an Alderperson on the Madison City Council. In April, 1997, she was elected the mayor of Madison, filling the unexpired seat left vacant by former Mayor Paul Soglin. Soglin resigned to run for Congress. Susan was the first woman to be elected to the mayoral position. Two years later, the former teacher was re-elected on the Dermocratic ticket to fill a full four-year term.
Once she left office, Susan was appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. Susan served in this capacity from 2003 to 2011. Since leaving her position on the Commission in 2011, the former educator has maintained a private practice as a mediator and arbitrator.
In 2017, Susan became an inductee for a Worldwide Lifetime Achievement Award from Who’s Who.
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Terry Lee Marzell receives Certificate of Recognition from California State Legislature
Author Terry Lee Marzell received a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Legislature on May 9, 2019. The certificate, which was presented to her by Assemblyman Phillip Chen (District 55), was to honor Terry for her leadership and service. “We appreciate the vital role you play in the 55th Assembly District,” reads the certificate. “Thank you for your dedicated commitment and great contributions to our community.”
Terry earned the honor, in part, for her work towards recognizing and celebrating great teachers through her published books, her website, her daily blog, and her public speaking events. Terry is, herself, a retired teacher with a total of 36 years in the classroom. She continues to serve her profession as the Co-President of Division 80 of the California Retired Teachers Association, and she edits their monthly newsletter. She has served on the organization’s Scholarship Committee, assisting with fundraising events, conducting interviews for prospective scholarship winners, and presenting the awards. She has also returned to her former school of employment each year to conduct exit interviews for graduating seniors. In March, 2019, Terry was inducted into the Kappa Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization that promotes the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.
In addition, Terry serves as an adult literacy tutor at her community library, and she has done volunteer work at her local no-kill pet shelter. Terry is an active member of an area political club, and she has worked with the County of San Bernardino to assist with the running of her neighborhood’s polling place.
“I was really surprised to receive this honor,” says Terry. “And I am very grateful to have my work on recognizing and celebrating great teachers recognized.”
