Elementary art teacher Emily Miller of Michigan earns recognition

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Congratulations to art teacher Emily Miller from Allendale, Michigan. She has been honored by the Michigan Art Education Association. Photo credit: Emily Miller

Congratulations to art teacher Emily Miller from Allendale, Michigan. She has been named the 2025 Elementary Art Teacher Educator of the Year by the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA).

Currently Emily teaches art classes to kindergarteners and first graders in Allendale Pubic Schools. She has worked there for the past five years. Previously to that, she worked for six years at Rockford Public Schools in Rockford, Michigan, located near Grand Rapids. She also served three years as an art teacher at Rising Star Camp, a facility for students with learning disabilities.

In addition to her honors from the MAEA, Emily has garnered a 2025 Art Education Leadership Award from Artsonia organization. According to Artsonia, this recognition is given to a visionary who continually inspires their peers in the art education community through their online school gallery. See more about this at Artsonia.

Her work in the classroom is not the only contribution Emily makes to the local art community. Since 2015, she has served as the President of Grand Valley State University’s College of Education Alumni Network, and from 2016-2023 she served on the university’s Alumni Board of Directors. Additionally, since 2018, Emily has volunteered with the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts on their Youth Art Committee. And as if all that were not enough, she also serves as the Chair of the Youth Art and Communications Committee, she is a member of the Operations Committee, and she is on the Board of the Directors for Festival.

Emily earned her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 2014 and her teaching credential in 2015, both from Grand Valley State University. She earned her Master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum from the same university in 2020.

To learn more about Emily, click on this link to an interview conducted with her by Grand Valley State University in 2022. Also, below is a short video clip from a local news organization about Emily’s award.

Kansas math teacher Robin Anderson earns prestigious PAEMST

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Middle School math teacher Robin Anderson of Andover, Kansas, has bee honored by Pres. Joe Biden with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo credit: Andover Middle School

There are many outstanding educators working with America’s young people in our nation’s public schools. One of these is Robin Anderson, a middle  school mathematics teacher from Kansas. In January, 2025, she was recognized by President Joe Biden with a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Robin currently teaches Pre-Algebra and Algebra I, at Andover Middle School. She has worked in this capacity since 2019. Previously she served for 19 years as a counselor with Andover Public Schools. In all, her career as an educator spans 30 years.

In a press release, the National Science Foundation stated that “Robin is passionate about making her students effective problem solvers. She strives to have minds-on class discussions and allows their forward thinking to guide their Math Genius Hour projects and presentations. Most of her students and their parents believe her communication is what helps students develop into confident, logical thinkers.”

Robin earned her Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburgh State University in 1997. She earned her Master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1999, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from the same school in 2006.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, recognize the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a meeting with the President and a $10,000 cash prize.

History teacher Pat Conroy has become an acclaimed author

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Former history teacher Pat Conroy has become a leading figure of Southern literature. Photo credit: Pat Conroy

Sometimes in history a talented educator earns fame, fortune, and acclaim in the literary world. One teacher like this is Pat Conroy, considered by many the leading figure of Southern literature of the late 20th century. Pat Conroy is the author of two acclaimed novels: The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini. Both these novels have garnered Academy Awards as films. He also penned the successful novel The Lords of Discipline.

Donald Patrick Conroy was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 26, 1945. His father was a Marine Corps fighter pilot, and for this reason his family moved frequently. Pat once said he attended eleven different schools before his sophomore year. Also, he has often described his father as abusive and his childhood as traumatic.

As a college student, Pat attended The Citadel, an all-male military college in South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in English in 1967. After earning his degree, Pat accepted a position as an English teacher at Beaufort High School in Beaufort, South Carolina. While there, he wrote his first novel, The Boo, which he self-published using money he borrowed from the bank.

After two years, Pat spent a year teaching at a two-room school on Daufuskie Island off the coast of South Carolina. There he worked to expand the horizons of his African American students, poorly-educated kids who spoke the Gullah dialect and had very little knowledge of the world beyond their island. Pat’s unorthodox instructional methods caused the superintendent of schools to fire him after just one year. Nevertheless, Pat relished his job as an educator. “There’s no word in the language I revere more than ‘teacher,’” Pat said in 1986. “My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I’ve honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher.”

This dedicated educator and outstanding author passed away from pancreatic cancer on March 4, 2016. He was 70 years old. He is interred at St. Helena Memorial Garden on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. To read the 2009 interview with Pat Conroy published by Low Country Weekly, click on The Power of Circles.

Educator Betty Dean Anderson was also a Councilwoman and civic leader

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California science teacher and administrator  Betty Dean Anderson also served her community as a San Bernardino City Councilwoman and civic leader. Photo credit: Press Enterprise

Many outstanding educators also serve their communities diligently as community leaders and volunteers. One of these is Betty Dean Anderson, a science teacher, administrator, and leading figure who lived in San Bernardino, California.

Betty was born on Nov. 2, 1930, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the youngest of six children. As a young woman, she earned her degree in Biology  from Wiley College located in Marshall, Texas.

As soon as Betty earned her college degree, she inaugurated her career in education as a Biology teacher at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California. Eventually, she became a respected administrator, earning a reputation among her colleagues as an individual of fairness, intelligence, and commitment to students.

Betty also served her community as an elected Councilwoman for San Bernardino City, representing the 6th Ward. While in office, the retired educator championed affordable housing, job training for young people, and economic development that revitalized underserved neighborhoods.

In addition to her responsibilities as an educator and civic leader, Betty co-founded the Swans Club, a debutante program that has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to young African American women and provided hours of service to non-profit organizations within the Inland Empire. Betty was also involved with the San Bernardino Valley Chapter of The Links, Inc., an organization that creates career pathways for young women and sponsors cultural opportunities within the Inland Empire. She also served on several civic and nonprofit boards and mentored generations of community leaders. Furthermore, Betty served as a volunteer usher for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games that were held in Los Angeles. One of the highlights of her life was when she was able to attend both inaugurations of President Barack Obama as a guest of Rep. Joe Baca.

Sadly, Betty Dean Anderson passed away in 2025. She was 94 years of age.