Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Shanti’ Coaston named a Ohio state finalist for a prestigious 2023 PAEMST honors

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Computer science educator Shanti’ Coaston of Westlake, Ohio, has been named a state finalist for a prestigious 2023 PAEMST award. Photo credit: The Villager

It is always my pleasure to recognize outstanding teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today I shine a spotlight on high school school teacher Shanti’ Coaston of Ohio. She has been named a state finalist for a prestigious 2023 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching).

The PAEMST honors 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, inventors, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a visit to the White House and a $10,000 cash prize.

Shanti’ inaugurated her career as an educator when she accepted a position as an intervention specialist in an alternative education program at Shaw High School in East Cleveland. After seven years working with young people as a school-based therapist and a youth career coach, she went into the classroom and taught Special Education. Then she decided that she could do more for her students as a computer science teacher. “I saw it as a way for kids to have a better life, just embracing technology,” Shanti’ explained. This year, she accepted a position as a computer science teacher at Westlake High School in Westlake, Ohio.

This outstanding educator has introduced her students to careers in the computer science and technology fields. She ensures her students are exposed to college tours, career fairs, and computer science competitions. She believes that every student, especially girls and students with disabilities, deserve to learn computer science. Through this dedication, she was chosen as a member of the inaugural class of CS Equity Fellows for 2019-2020 by the Computer Science Teachers Association, and she serves on the advisory board for Computer Science Honor Society.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Shanti’ provides professional development presentations at the local, district, and state level on how to integrate technology into the curriculum. She also places special focus on the recruitment of girls and students of color into computer science courses.

Shanti’s selection for a PAEMST is not he only recognition she has earned. She also garnered a 2023 Computer Science Teaching Excellence Award. And she was a nominee for Ohio State Teacher of the Year.

Shanti’ earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1999, and a second Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Salisbury University in 1999. She has also earned a Master’s degree in Social Science Administration from Case Western Reserve University in 2000. She completed the requirements for her teacher certificate as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist from Notre Dame College of Ohio in 2011.

CA Teacher of the Year substitutes for “Wheel of Fortune” hostess Vanna White

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A 2023 California Teacher of the Year was introduced to Wheel of Fortune fans this week when she asked to temporarily substitute for program hostess Vanna White. Vanna was unable to report for work because she tested positive for Covid, so the award-winning teacher, Bridgette Donald-Blue, was asked to fill in. The choice was appropriate, since the show was celebrating Teachers Week that day.

“When I got the call to be a part of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ for Teachers Week, I was tremendously excited,” Bridgette recalled. “It was a great opportunity to champion the cause of education, the work that teachers do every day,” she continued. Bridgette has been an educator for three decades. She teaches Math Intervention at grades K-3 at Coliseum Street Elementary in South Los Angeles.

Bridgette describes her teaching style as reflective. “I’m constantly looking at data, at how students are understanding a lesson, then seeing where it can be tweaked or changed,” she explains. “I always think I could have done something a little better. If I give a lesson to 30 kids and 17 kids are right there and ready to go, that means that I’ve got 13 that are not quite getting it—and that’s absolutely not acceptable,” she declares. “So I always try to figure out, what can I do? To help make sure every student is learning, I end up including lots of different modalities,” she continues. “So if I’m teaching a particular topic one day, it might be taught via a lot of listening strategies. Another day it might be taught through a lot of speaking strategies. I’m trying to ensure that all my kids can enter in and understand the subject matter, no matter what their learning style is,” she says.

To learn more about Bridgette, read this transcript of a 2023 interview published by LA School Report.

Remon Smith of Texas named MileSplit’s 2023 Coach of the Year

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Remon Smith of Houston, Texas, has been named 2023 Coach of the Year by MileSplit. Photo credit: Klein Forest High School

It is always my pleasure to share news about an outstanding educator and coach who has earned recognition for their work with young people. Remon Smith, a coach in Texas, is one of these. He has been named the 2023 Coach of the Year by MileSplit.

At Klein Forest High School in Houston, Remon teaches physical education and leads instruction in credit recovery, and he coaches boys track and field. His athletic program is highly successful. In fact, his teams have managed to garner two state titles over four years—in 2023 and 2019—and his athletes finished a respectable third place in 2022.

Remon’s success as a coach follows his own personal success as a student athlete. At Randolph-Macon College, Remon lettered in football four years. When he graduated, he was named the All-Time Leading Collegiate Rusher for the State of Virginia, and he was named to the All-American Team. With a record like that, it is no surprise that he was inducted into the Randolph-Macon College Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

The honored coach shares the philosophy which led to his selection as Coach of the Year. “The key to a successful coaching career is making your athletes understand ‘we must make the uncomfortable comfortable,'” he declares, “and they will do what others are unwilling to do. I also teach my athletes the training process because, in high school, it’s more about teaching than coaching,” he continues. “The advice I would give a new coach is always to make sure the kids know you care about them more than any athletic outcome,” he declares. “Once an athlete knows you care, there is no limit to how much effort they will put in.”

MileSplit, founded in 2000, is the nation’s premier network for high school track and field and cross country. In addition to his honor from MileSplit, Ramon was also named the 6A Track and Field Coach of the Year by the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association.

Sharon Stephen-Buitrago named the 2023 BABSE Broward County Science Teacher of the Year

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Sharon Stephen-Buitrago has been named the Broward County Science Teacher of the Year for 2023 by the Broward Alliance of Black School Educators (BABSE). Photo credit: BABSE

Congratulations are due to elementary educator Sharon Stephen-Buitrago. She has been named the Broward County Science Teacher of the Year for 2023 by the Broward Alliance of Black School Educators (BABSE), a division of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE).

The NABSE is the nation’s foremost non-profit organization devoted to furthering the academic success for American youth, especially children of African descent. Now in year 53 since its founding, NABSE boasts an outreach to more than 10,000 pre-eminent educators including teachers, administrators, and superintendents, as well as corporate and institutional members. Founded in 1970, NABSE is dedicated to improving both the educational experiences and accomplishments of African American youth through the development and use of instructional and motivational methods that increase levels of inspiration, attendance, and overall achievement.

So Sharon is in very good company, indeed. Currently, she serves as a teacher and science coach at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Montessori Academy School, a magnet school of Broward County Public Schools in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Previously she taught fifth grade at Pompano Beach Elementary School in Ft. Lauderdale, where she worked since Aug., 2008. Prior to that, she taught for ten years for Ascension Parish Schools in St. Amant, Louisiana.

Sharon earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1998 and her Master’s degree in Education in 2007, both from Southeastern Louisiana University. She earned a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Florida Atlantic University.

To learn more about both BABSE and NABSE, click on this link to BABSE.

Elem teacher Reggie LeDon White named 2023 Alabama Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher Reggie LeDon White has been named as the 2023 Alabama State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: ABC News

It is always my pleasure to share stories about exemplary educators who have earned accolades for their workin the classroom. One of these is Reggie LeDon White, an elementary school teacher from Alabama who has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Reggie teaches fifth-grade at Booker T. Washington K-8 School in Birmingham. The honored educator believes that relationships are the key to successful teaching. “By building solid relationships and comprehensively investing in education, we have a better chance of ensuring that every student can achieve their full potential and contribute to the success of our society,” Reggie asserts.

Reggie was raised in a small town in south Alabama. After his graduation from Southern Choctaw High School, he had an opportunity to spend a summer break  in San Jose, California. As the summer progressed, Reggie developed a passion for teaching. The final incentive to enter the profession came when he watched a television commercial that featured a child saying, “We need you.”

Reggie earned his Bachelor’s degree in elementary Education from Alabama State. He earned his Master’s degree in Education Administration. He also has an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, and he is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher. His career as an educator spans 26 years.

Since its inauguration in 1952, the Teacher of the Year program has celebrated educators from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and four US territories. Each year, these exemplary teachers have been recognized at a ceremony at the White House, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the year that follows their selection, these teachers are invited to learn at Google, develop a TEDEd talk, and attend Space Camp, among other honors.