Tag Archives: African American Teachers

TX elementary science teacher Amber Chalmers earns recognition from STAT

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Teacher Amber Chalmers has been named the 2024 Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Science Teachers Association of Texas. Photo Credit: Lancaster Independent School District

I am always happy to share the story of a teacher who has earned accolades for their work with young people. Today, I share the story of Amber Chalmers, an elementary school teacher from Lancaster, Texas. She has been named named the 2024 Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT).

Amber teaches science to fifth graders at Spring Houston Elementary School in Houston, Texas. She has taught there for the past eight years. She believes science is not just a subject, but a way of thinking and exploring the world around us. She encourages her students to think of science beyond just the end-of-year exams and to find creative ways to approach science. When she’s not in the classroom, Amber serves as a mentor to other elementary science teachers within her district.

“Learning science now is vastly different than when I was a student many years ago,” asserts Amber. “I could never get into it as a kid, so now I make it a mission for my students to find joy in science,” she reveals. “They love doing hands-on experiments, but I take it further and engage the students in discussion following each experiment or lab. The discussions are vital because they allow the students to dive deeper into why something happened and then make connections to real-world situations outside of the classroom,” she continues. She says the students absorb the concept even more than they normally would following the discussion because they all bring different perspectives and experiences to the conversation.

Amber earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from Prairie View A&M in 2005. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas, Arlington, in 2009.

With her STAT recognition comes an additional honor. Amber has been named one of six state finalists for a prestigious 2024 PAEMST (Presidential Award fir Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

 

Virginia’s Symone Jenkins earns 2024 First Year Teacher Award

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Symone Keolani Jenkins of Alexandria, Virginia, is such a phenomenal first-year educator that she has earned a 2024 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Award. Photo Credit: Fairfax County Public Schools

Like most professional educators, I really struggled to stay on top of things during my first year of teaching. But there are some first-year teachers who, from the very beginning, are so exceptional they even win awards! One of these is Symone Keolani Jenkins, a high school teacher from Alexandria, Virginia. She is so phenomenal that she has earned a 2024 Outstanding Secondary School New Teacher Award from Fairfax County Public Schools.

Symone teaches English and Language Arts courses to sophomores and juniors at West Potomac High School in the Fairfax County Pubic School District. In the classroom, this outstanding educator has a reputation for creating an environment where her students thrive, not only academically but also socially and personally.

Symone embraces diversity and inclusion, and she recognizes the value of considering a variety of different perspectives to the learning environment. In the future, she hopes to offer elective courses in Black Perspectives in Literature and LGBTQ+ Perspectives in Literature. These courses are intended to “assist with having an open mind and open perspective moving forward by looking at the struggles of others in our society and history,” the honored teacher explains.

In addition to working as a teacher, Symone has also devoted her energy to young people by serving them as a volleyball coach for the local Evolution Volleyball Club. In fact, she has served as the Head Coach there since 2021.

Symone earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Cultural Studies in 2021 and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching English in 2022, both from George Mason University, a public research university located in Fairfax, Virginia, not far from Washington, DC.

Congratulations, Symone!

Arkansas teacher Charlotte Stephens, born into slavery, taught for 70 years

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Charlotte Stephens, pictured here in 1924, taught school in Little Rock, Arkansas, for 70 consecutive years. Photo Credit: Public Domain

There are many inspirational examples of outstanding educators who have devoted their entire lives to the profession. One of these is Arkansas teacher Charlotte Stephens. She  devoted 70 years of her life to the profession of teaching.

Charlotte was born into slavery on May 9, 1854, in Little Rock, Arkansas. As a youngster, she lived in the household of Arkansas Senator Chester Ashley. Once the Civil War was over, Charlotte was educated at a local school established by the Society of Friends under the auspices of the Freedman’s Bureau.

Once she graduated, Charlotte attended Oberlin College. There she studied Latin, geometry, the history of Rome, music, English, and the Bible. In 1873, Charlotte returned to Little Rock to teach. Over the years, she updated her teaching techniques by completing courses at teachers’ colleges, although she never earned a degree.

Charlotte launched her career as an educator at the age of 15. She taught Latin, German, and science courses at the Freedmen’s School she had attended as a young girl. In fact, she was the first African American teacher in the city’s public school system. Later in hr career, she served as the principal of the Capital Hill School, as the librarian of Dunbar High School, and as the Acting Principal of Union High School.

By the time Charlotte retired in 1939 at the age of 85, her career as an educator had spanned 70 consecutive years. At that time, to honor her work, Charlotte was given a Master’s degree from Shorter College in North Little Rock. In 1910, Stephens Elementary School in Little Rock was named after her. The school still operates as a public school to this day.

Sadly, Charlotte passed away on December 17, 1951. She was 97 years old. She is interred at Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock.

 

Former educator LK Atwood served in the Mississippi State Legislature

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Former educator Louis Kossuth (LK)  Atwood also served two terms as a state legislator for the state of Mississippi. (Photo Credit: Mississippi State Legislature.

Many fine classroom teachers also make excellent politicians. One of these was Louis Kossuth (LK) Atwood. In addition to his work as an educator, LK served as a state legislator in the state of Mississippi.

LK was born into slavery in Wilcox County, Alabama, on Dec. 15, 1850. When he was only 18 months old, he was sold at a slave auction. He was purchased for $300 by his own mother, who then took him with her when they relocated to Ohio. As a young boy, LK went to school in Ripley, Ohio. In 1874, he earned his Bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. During these years, he was also ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Once LK earned his degree, he accepted a teaching position in Bolton, Mississippi. Later he studied law and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1879. He then opened his own law practice in Bolton where he specialized in insurance law. In fact, he established precedents before the Mississippi State Legislature several times.

LK was elected on the Republican ticket to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he represented Hinds County for two terms. The first was from 1880 to 1881, and the second was from 1884 to 1885. After he left the legislature, LK appointed to a position as a United States Internal Revenue Service collector where he worked until 1899. In addition, he was named a delegate to attend the Republican National Convention several times.

The former teacher also had experience in the business world. He founded the fraternal insurance company known as the Sons and Daughters of Jacob of America in 1883. He ran this organization until his passing. He also helped establish the  Southern Bank in Jackson and served as its president. He was president of the Mississippi Negro Bankers Association.

Sadly, LK passed away on Jan. 8, 1929, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was 78 years old. He is interred at Mount Olive Cemetery in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

West Virginia educator Mary Doakes was a trailblazer in her community

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West Virginia educator Mary Doakes was a trailblazer in her community. Photo Credit: Eackles-Spencer & Norton

Many excellent educators become trailblazers in their community. One of these was Mary Taylor Doakes, a teacher who became the first African American administrator to serve in schools in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Mary Taylor was born on May 22, 1936, As a youngster, she attended the historic Page-Jackson School, the first publicly funded school for African Americans in the county. In those days, the school symbolized the ability to the Black community as a stepping stone for becoming successful during a time period when educating African Americans was discouraged. Today the building is home to the Jefferson County Board of Education.

After her high school graduation, she worked her way through college. First, she enrolled in a teacher training program at Storer College, a historically Black college located in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. After the college closed in 1955, she transferred to Shepherd College. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in 1957. She next enrolled in Michigan State University, later transferring to West Virginia University. It was there that she earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Administration in 1963.

After completing her education, Mary accepting a position as a teacher at Eagle Avenue Elementary School. After several years, she transferred to her alma mater, Page-Jackson school. In all, she spent 14 years in the classroom. In 1971, Mary was promoted to Assistant Principal at Charles Town Junior High School. In 1974, she became the first African American administrator in Jefferson County. Her next assignment was the principal of Charles Town Junior High, a position she held until she retired in 1989. Throughout her long career as an educator, Mary was known for combining loving encouragement with hard-as-nails discipline.

Sadly, Mary Doakes passed away on May 1, 2019, in Ranson, West Virginia. She was 82 years old. Later she was featured in a collection of photographs published in African Americans of Jefferson County by the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society.