The amazing Laura Chang: Michigan’s 2018 State Teacher of the Year

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Laura Chang

Elementary teacher Laura Chang: Michigan’s 2018 State Teacher of the Year.

Michigan has announced elementary school teacher Laura Chang is the state’s Teacher of the Year for 2018. Laura, whose career as an educator has spanned 19 years, teaches at Sunset Lake Elementary in the Vicksburg Community School district in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. She currently teaches math and reading to kindergarten through fifth grade learners in an intervention setting.

Previously, Laura has taught pre-K, first/second grade multi-age, second grade, and third grade. In addition, she has worked as an instructional consultant and academic coach. She also serves as a mentor coach and district technology integration leader. And as if all this isn’t enough, she also teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Special Education and Literacy Studies Department at Western Michigan University.

Laura earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Education (1999) and her Master’s degree in Education (2004)  from Western Michigan University located in Kalamazoo.

Laura has an obvious passion for her profession. “Teachers must have a passion for their work when they walk into a classroom each day,” asserts Laura. “I’m passionate about my students’ academic, behavior and socio-emotional growth and success,” she continues. “Our students look to their teachers for hope, for guidance, for encouragement, and for inspiration. What my students may not realize, though, is that those are the things that they give to me each day when I walk into my classroom,” she concludes.

Honoring Carter Godwin Woodson, the founder of Black History Month

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Carter Godwin Woodson

Celebrated educator Carter Godwin Woodson, the originator of Black History Month.

This month, teachers throughout the country are currently observing Black History Month, an annual celebration of the many important  contributions African Americans have made to our country. But did you know that Black History Month, itself, was the brainchild of a brilliant American teacher?

Educator Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950)  is credited with organizing and advocating annual Black History Month celebrations in American schools in 1926. Certainly this is an admirable accomplishment in and of itself, but there is so much more to learn about this outstanding educator. Did you know that, as a youngster, Carter was forced to work on the family farm rather than attend school? Nevertheless, he taught himself to read using the Bible and local newspapers. He didn’t finish high school until he was 20 years old. Did you know that he once worked as a coal miner in Fayette County, West Virginia, and then later went back there to teach school to the children of Black coal miners, serving as a personal role model for using education to get out of the mines? And did you know that Carter taught school in the Philippines, and then became the supervisor of schools, which included duties as a trainer of teachers, there?

To read more about this fascinating historical figure, check out the chapter I have written about him in my first book, Chalkboard Champions.

Former NFL player Beau Almodobar now teaches PE, coaches football

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Beau Almodobar

Former NFL player Beau Almodobar now teaches junior high school physical education and coaches high school football.

There a numerous examples of talented athletes who go on to become coaches after their careers as professional players are complete. This is true of former NFL player Beau Almodobar, who went on to become a junior high school physical education teacher.

Beau was born born October 25, 1962, in San Francisco, California. As a college student, he played college football for the Norwich University Cadets. Norwich, also known as The Military College of Vermont, is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont. It is the oldest private military college in the United States. At 5’9″ and 180 pounds, Beau played the position of wide receiver for the Cadets. After he graduated from the university, he played one season with the New York Giants as a replacement player. That was in 1987.

Beau currently teaches physical education and health at Cyrus Pierce Middle School in Nantucket, Massachusetts. He has served as the Head Varsity Coach for basketball in the Nantucket Public School system, and also coaches football for the Nantucket High School Whalers. A well-rounded athlete, Beau also runs ACKventure summer camps for baseball and basketball for Nantucket youth.

Well done, Beau!

Sean Cattouse: Was an NFL player, is now a physical education teacher

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Sean Cattouse

Former professional football player Sean Cattouse now teaches high school level physical education.

Super Bowl fever is upon us! When thinking about the upcoming game, I am reminded that many times fine athletes also make talented classroom teachers. One example of this is Sean Cattouse, a former NFL player who now teaches physical education in a Chicago high school.

Sean was born on October 4, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois. As a young man, he attended Gurdon S. Hubbard High School in his home town. After his high school graduation, he played college football at the University of California, Berkeley

In 2012, Sean was signed by the San Diego Chargers, for whom he played one season. The next season, the 6’2″, 210-pound free safety played for the Chicago Bears.

Sean inaugurated his career as an educator at Muchin College Prep School in 2015. Muchin is a public four-year charter high school located in the Chicago Loop. Currently, he teaches physical education at Rauner College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois. Rauner College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the West Town area of the city.

Way to go, Sean!

Former NFL player Aaron Maybin now a teacher, artist, and community activist

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Aaron Maybin

Former NFL player Aaron Maybin now works as an elementary school art teacher, artist, and community activist.

As a former NFL linebacker, Aaron Maybin is a tough guy. But he never faced obstacles on the field like the ones he’s facing as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. This January, he’s teaching his class in what has been described as “life-threatening” sub-zero temperatures, even though the heating system broke down in his school building.

Aaron teaches at Matthew A. Henson Elementary, one of several in Baltimore which continued to hold classes this month, despite the deep freeze. But Aaron has tackled the Baltimore winter weather like a true pro. Through a GoFundMe page, he’s helped raise over $80,000 to pay for space heaters for the city’s schools and to buy winter coats, hats, gloves, and other warm clothes for the students.

Aaron, an artist and poet, teaches visual arts as an independent contractor at Henson three days a week through a program called Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center.

The former pro-football player harbors a deep connection to Baltimore. He grew up in the city, where his father was a longtime official with the city fire department. Aaron attended Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City, a suburb of Baltimore, where he played football. Following his graduation, he played for Penn State University, where he earned All-American honors. In 2009, the teacher was named a first-round draft pick for the Buffalo Bills. He played four seasons with first the Bills, and then the New York Jets.

After Aaron’s career as a professional football player concluded in 2013, he launched his career as a professional artist. He also founded Project Mayhem, a nonprofit organization that provides art activities for the public and supports the artwork of students in the Baltimore area. Aaron has also authored a book entitled Art Activism, published in 2017. The volume presents his paintings, photography, poetry, and prose to convey both the pride and pain of Baltimore. The book can be found on amazon at this link: Art Activism.

Aaron Maybin: Our Chalkboard Hero!

Aaron Maybin

Former NFL player Aaron Maybin teaches art to Baltimore students through his Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center.