Tom Payeur named Vermont’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year

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Tom Payeur

Educator Tom Payeur named Vermont’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year.

The Agency of Education for the State of Vermont has announced that their 2019 Vermont Teacher of the Year is Tom Payeur, a mathematics teacher at Winooski Middle/High School in Winooski, Chittenden County,Vermont.

Tom’s career as a math teacher has spanned six years, all at Winooski. Even though he is relatively new to the profession, he has been hailed as an innovator in proficiency-based education. He has been instrumental in his District’s efforts to teach their students 21st-century math skills. His efforts have obviously been noticed by officials at the state level. “Through his leadership, Tom helped his colleagues merge their math curriculum into a single online curriculum to provide flexible pathways for students,” declares Vermont Secretary of Education Daniel French. “And, to quote one of his peers, Tom Payeur is ‘undoubtedly the most visionary math teacher I’ve known in two decades of teaching.”

The talented educator says his students constantly challenge him to explore new ways of problem-solving. “The interest and fun comes out when they’re really given the chance to work with each other, to make models, to share ideas,” Tom asserts. “I try as much as possible to share with them the fact that learning math is not so much about memorizing things, it’s about the ability to break down a problem, see what’s true about it, and then find solutions that work,” he continues.

Tom earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics in 2010 and his Master’s degree in Secondary Education in 2012, both at the University of Vermont located in Burlington, Vermont.

Congratulations, Tom!

Outstanding educator Mamie Sue Bastian of Texas

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Mamie Sue Bastian

Outstanding educator Mamie Sue Bastian of Houston, Texas.

There are many excellent teachers who work hard to improve the work conditions of their colleagues. One of these was Mamie Sue Bastian, one of the foremost women educators of the state of Texas in the past century.

Mamie was born on November 27, 1874, in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She attended public schools, and then earned her degree at Houston Normal and High School in 1894. She attended college classes during summer sessions, during which time she also traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

After she earned her post-secondary degree, Mamie taught in the Houston School District from 1895 to 1922. From 1924 to 1925, she served as principal of Bowie Elementary, and from 1926 to 1940 she served as principal of Crockett Elementary.

In 1929, the former classroom teacher was one of 12 women educators who founded Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society that still exists today. The organization promotes the support and professional growth of outstanding women employed at every level of education. Mamie is credited with founding 13 chapters of the organization in Texas, and helping establish six state organizations.

She also served on the Executive Committee of the Texas State Teachers Association in 1919, and she organized and served as president of the Houston Teachers Association. In addition, she formed the Houston Principals Association, she was active in the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, and she was a member of the National Education Association. Furthermore, she served one term as vice president of the Texas State Textbook Board.

Mamie Sue Bastian passed away on February 20, 1946, and was interred in the Houston’s Glenwood Cemetery.

St. Louis University’s “Billiken” man: Originally created by art teacher Florence Pretz

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Florence Pretz

Billiken man, mascot for St. Louis University. The original Billiken was created by art teacher and illustrator Florence Pretz.

Last night my husband and I stumbled across a televised basketball game between the St. Louis University Billikens and the University of Richmond Spiders.

Billikens? Whaaat? And then a camera shot of the mysterious and rather freaky-looking mascot. What followed then was a flurry of internet research.

Here is what we discovered: According to legend, the creature was the brainchild of Kansas City art teacher and illustrator Florence Pretz, who taught at Manual Training High School for many years. Evidently, she “got the inspiration for Billiken in 1896 while looking at a collection of grouchy looking gods belonging to Miss Floy Campbell of the art department at the school. They brought to Miss Pretz’s mind the idea of fashioning a god who would smile and bring to his worshippers cheer instead of gloom,” or at least so it was said in an article published in the Chicago Daily Tribune on February 14, 1912. Some say the little goblin came to Florence in a dream, and that later she chose to name her vision Billiken after a character in an 1896 poem entitled Mr. Moon: A Song Of The Little People by Canadian poet Bliss Carman.

Florence Pretz

High school art teacher Florence Pretz, creator of the Billiken.

In its original form, the Billiken was an elephant-like creature with tapered ears, short arms, an impish smile, and a tuft of hair growing on the top of his pointed head. He was depicted sitting with his legs outstretched in front of him and the soles of his oversized feet clearly visible. Over the decades, the Billiken has morphed into the fellow you see above.

Anyway, despite his original bizarre appearance, the Billiken was an instant hit, becoming a good-luck charm that enjoyed popularity worldwide. Eventually the creature became known as “The God of Things as They Ought to Be.” As a result of her success with Billiken, Florence gave up her teaching position, moved to Chicago, and became the illustrator of a number of short stories written about a group of Billikens. These stories were published in the Canadian periodical Canada West, where their lighthearted antics delighted the reading public.

Alas, after only a few years of popularity, the Billiken faded into obscurity. Unless, of course, you happen to have a connection with the University of St. Louis. Then you come across the mischievous little mascot all the time.

Wyoming’s Chris Bessonette: A 2018 Milken Award Honoree

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So many wonderful teachers out there! This one is Chris Bessonette, a second grade teacher from Wyoming, who was named a 2018 Milken Award winner. Chris teaches second grade dual immersion at K-5 Munger Mountain Elementary School in Jackson, Wyoming.

As a teacher, Chris understands the challenges faced by his immigrant students and their parents, and he advocates for them tirelessly. In addition to learning Spanish in order to better communicate with his learners, this chalkboard champion tutors, attends soccer games and concerts, and works towards connecting families with community resources. Also, he’s famous for his positive outlook!

Chris team-teaches with a Spanish-language teaching partner. Since the pairing, the talented teacher has seen a 20% increase in his students’ state assessments in a single quarter! His lessons are data-driven, and focus on vocabulary development, a skill critical to ensuring his students’ academic success. In addition, Chris has been the leader of a collaborative effort with the University of Wyoming to pilot a new vocabulary initiative to be used in all of his school district’s second-grade dual-immersion classes. 

Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Graceland University in 1998, and his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming in 2011.

The Milken Educator Awards, which Teacher magazine has described as the “Oscars of Teaching,” has been honoring exceptional educators over three decades. Only 40 Milken Awards are given out each year, and this year Chris Bessonette is the only recipient from Wyoming. 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 top teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who are dedicated to strengthening education. 

Way to go, Chris!