Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Joyce Abbott: The teacher who inspired Quinta Brunson

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Philadelphia teacher Joyce Abbot with her sixth grade student, Quinta Brunson. When Quinta grew up, she modeled her character, Janine Teagues, on the award-winning television show Abbott Elementary, in part on her inspirational teacher. Photo credit: University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

There are many praiseworthy educators in classrooms all around our country, but not all of them receive the praise they are due. One of these teachers, though, has received more praise than she could ever have imagined. She is Joyce Abbott, a retired elementary teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joyce is, in part, the inspiration for a character on the award-winning television show, Abbot Elementary. She was the teacher of sixth grader Quinta Brunson. When Quinta grew up, she became the creator and star of the show, and while writing the show, she didn’t forget her former teacher.

Abbott Elementary highlights the difficulties faced by an inner-city school staff as they teach their young students. Those difficulties include substandard facilities, underfunding, lack of educational resources, and, in some cases, poor leadership.

The show has garnered an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2022, a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy in 2022, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2023.

Joyce taught for 27 years in inner-city schools within the Philadelphia School District. Most recently, she served as a climate manager at Andrew Hamilton Elementary, a K-8 school located in West Philadelphia. In this role, she ensures the campus environment is safe and conducive to learning.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Joyce is also a veteran of the US Army, where she attained the rank of staff sergeant. She spent ten years in the military, including a ten-month tour of the Person Gulf during the Persian Gulf War.

Joyce has admitted publicly that it wasn’t always easy for her to succeed in the classroom. “At the onset of my journey, it was very difficult. I had 36 students my first year, very limited textbooks, several behavior problems, and in addition to several students academically challenged,” Joyce recalls. But she says that it was her passion that kept her in the classroom.

Joyce admits that teachers in the classroom today continue to face obstacles in their profession. “It’s difficult with the many outside challenges that teachers are facing today,” she asserts. But she encourages them to keep up the good work. “Know that you can do it, believe in yourself, and believe in that child. They need you, sometimes you’re their only hope,” Joyce says. “Just know that every day that you’re going in, even though every day may not be great, you are making a difference,” she concludes.

This Chalkboard Champion earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, in 1983, and her Master’s degree in Education from Cheyney University. She is listed in the Who’s Who Among America’s Finest Teachers.

Pres. Obama visits South Shore pre-kindergarten classroom

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President Barack Obama visited a pre-kindergarten class in South Shore, Illinois, on Dec. 12, 2023. He read a book to the children, and then distributed toys and winter accessories to each child. Photo credit: Chicago Sun Times

A Chalkboard Champion can appear in many forms. To about 20 children in a pre-kindergarten class in South Shore, Illinois, he appeared in the form of President Barack Obama!

The former president was smiling as he entered the classroom at Parkside Community Academy, located at 6938 S. East End Ave. in South Shore, a suburb of Chicago. He smiled and greeted the children as he entered the room—wearing a Santa cap and hauling a red sack full of gifts slung over his shoulder. Obama made the surprise holiday visit just before winter break as a way of spreading holiday cheer in the community.

Obama has always been a huge supporter of public education. In fact, he has experience as a former college professor. So he shared his passion for learning by first reading a holiday story to the children. His selection? Santa’s Gotta Go by Derrick Barnes. As he read, he cracked jokes that made the children and the teachers laugh. “He called Mrs. Claus babe!” Obama quipped after reading a portion of the book. After he concluded the reading, he distributed toys and winter accessories to each student in the classroom.

“For him to take the time to come here out of his busy schedule to read a book, it just shows that he is still a leader,” asserted teacher Debra Gardner, who has taught at Parkside for nearly three decades.

Fifth grade teacher Ashley Barrett agreed. “I just thought it was so great that they were able to listen to a story from him, and they were interactive,” she said. “When they grow up, they can do something great [like] be a president.”

The visitation occurred on Tues., Dec. 12, 2023.

Deelah Jackson named a finalist for 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year

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Exceptional educator Deelah Jackson of Manatee County, Florida, has been named one of five finalists for her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Florida Department of Education

There is a classroom of fourth grade students at Samoset Elementary School in Manatee County, Florida, that are fortunate to have Deelah Jackson as their teacher. This exceptional educator engages her students with high-quality lesson plans, and incorporates singing and movement into her curriculum. And she is especially passionate about teaching math.

Deelah has worked at Samoset Elementary since 2015. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she is a member of the Samoset School Advisory Council, and the school’s emergency response team. She is also the Site Director for the Extended Day Enrichment Program (EDEP) and helps coach the school’s VEX Robotics competition team.

Deelah originally hails from Indiana. After graduating from high school, she first attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, on a scholarship. However, she completed the requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. After earning her degree in 1995, she worked with at-risk youth

For her work in the classroom, Deelah has been named one of five finalists for 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year. The other four finalists were Jennifer Jaso, a social studies teacher at Sarasota Middle School in Sarasota County; Melissa Matz, a seventh-grade math teacher at Lakeside Junior High School in Clay County; Trinity Whittington, a fourth-grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Bell Elementary School in Gilchrist County; and Seema Naik, a fourth-grade teacher at Eagle Ridge Elementary School in Broward County.

Congratulations, Deelah!

Georgia educator Venola Mason publishes instructional strategies

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Former classroom teacher Venola Mason’s book Teach Up! offers resources that demonstrate the importance of positive relationships between teachers and students and the value of high expectations. Photo credit: Venola Mason

Many excellent classroom teachers go on to share best practices to help students excel. Some of them even publish books offering proven strategies. One of these is Venola Mason, a former elementary school teacher who wrote the inspirational book Teach Up! Empowering Educators through Relationships, Rigor, and Relevance.

Venola’s book offers information and resources that demonstrate the importance of positive relationships between teachers and students, and the value of high academic expectations. The volume also explores issues related to social and emotional learning, the impact of childhood trauma, and the influence of the classroom environment. In addition, the book presents best practices and step-by-step procedures that can be used in any classroom, for any subject, and at any grade level to increase critical thinking skills through authentic learning experiences. Teach Up!  was published in 2021 and is available on amazon.

This remarkable educator has a wealth of experience to back up the strategies she presents in her book. She  taught fourth grade in Atlanta Public Schools for five years, between 2003 and 2005. She has also served as the Director of Alternative Certification in the Teach for America Program. Currently, she is an Associate Partner for the International Center for Leadership in Education. She has spent 12 years with the company.

“My love for learning blossomed as a small child playing ‘school’ with my older brother and younger sister in the East End of Louisville, Kentucky,” recalls Venola. “With limited opportunities in our community, my mom, determined to offer a better life to her children, moved our family to Los Angeles, California when I was eight years old,” she continues. “She worked hard as a certified nursing assistant caring for elderly patients. She didn’t make a lot of money or have any fancy degrees, but she taught me the importance of working hard, caring for others, and not being afraid to take chances in life,” the educator says. And it is these values that inspired Venola to inspire others to excel in their educational endeavors, too.

Venola earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, in 2001. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Technology from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, in 2009.