Tag Archives: Asian American Teachers

Teacher Angela Duckworth studies “grit”

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Angela Duckworth, former high school math teacher and current CEO of Character Lab, developed the concept of “grit” as an indicator of student success. Photo credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

There are many examples of individuals successful in the world of business who leave lucrative positions to teach in America’s high schools. One of these is Angela Duckworth, a psychologist, social scientist, author, CEO of a nonprofit,  who also taught mathematics in a San Francisco public school.

Angela was born in 1970, the daughter of immigrants from China. Her father was a chemist with the DuPont Chemicals Company. Angela was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Cherry Hill High School East. After her graduation from high school, Angela attended Harvard University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology in 1992. She earned her Master’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford in 1996. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. In 2013, Angela garnered a MacArthur Fellowship.

Originally, Angela accepted a position as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, but she left that job after about one year in order to accept a teaching post at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Lowell is the only public high school in San Francisco that admits students on the basis of academic merit. The school is the largest feeder to the University of California system, and many of the school’s graduates go on to enroll in the country’s most selective universities. She also taught at schools in Philadelphia and New York City. In all, her career as an educator spanned five years.

Angela left the classroom to become the founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit organization that studies the importance of what she called “grit”—the quality that contributes to an individual’s success in life. Angela defines “grit” as passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals. As a result of the studies, Angela published a best-selling book entitled Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance in May, 2016. In fact, she is credited with introducing the concept of “grit” to the conversation of education policy.

Today, Angela continues to run Character Lab, and she also instructs courses in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

American Samoa’s former First Lady, teacher Susana Lutali

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Former Governor A.P. Lutali with his wife, former teacher and First Lady of American Samoa Susana Lutali. Photo Credit: Marion Malena

Many a fine classroom teacher has also earn fame as a celebrity. This is true of Susana Lutali, an elementary school teacher in American Samoa who became the territory’s First Lady.

Susana Legato was born May 23, 1932, in Fagaitua, American Samoa. Fagaitua is a village located on the south coast of American Samoa’s Tutuila Island. She attended St. Francis Sister School and then studied at Teachers Institute. As a young woman in the early 1950’s, she became a teacher at Fagaitua Elementary School.

In 1954, Susana married A.P. Lutali, a former teacher and public school administrator. When A.P. was elected Governor of the territory in 1985, and then re-elected in 1989, the she became American Samoa’s First Lady. She was also during her husband’s re-election, from 1993 to 1997. In her role as First Lady, the former teacher led the way for numerous landscape beautification programs throughout the island. She established committees of women who planted new trees and ornamental shrubs along the roadsides, and many of those originally planted can found found throughout the territory today. She also initiated many renovations to the Governor’s Mansion, called Maugaoali’i, and operating the governor’s residence in high style. Susana became known for her elegant manner of dress, from her beautifully coifed hair to her tailored puletasis,  a traditional outfit worn by Samoan women, which she wore in nearly every public appearance while she served as First Lady.

Sadly, Susana Lutani was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the uterus in 2011. She succumbed to the disease on June 15, 2012. She was 80 years old. Her funeral was held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church and was buried next to her husband at their family compound in Illiili, American Samoa, on June 29, 2012.

Making sure AAPI students feel seen, affirmed, and included

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recently came to a close, but supporting AAPI students is important all year round. In this short video message provided by Teacher2Teacher, educator Natasha Akery of South Carolina shares her suggestions for making sure that every student feels seen, affirmed, and included. Take a look:

 

 

Music teacher Sarah Mae Lagasca garners coveted Milken Award

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High school music educator Sarah Mae Lagasca of Newark, New Jersey, has garnered a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: milkeneducatoraward.org

It is always a pleasure to share stories about talented educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Sarah Mae Lagasca, a high school music teacher from New Jersey, who has garnered a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Educator Award.

As a music teacher at Arts High School in Newark, Sarah Mae strives to increase her students’ proficiency in music theory, composition, sight reading, vocal technique, music history, recording and production technology, marketing and branding, and personal artistic growth.

Sarah Mae has long been recognized as an innovative instructor. Throughout the pandemic, the honored educator culled and shared a variety of strategies to keep students engaged in her virtual classroom, including breakout rooms, hand signals, recordings, and online programs such as Music First, FlipGrid, and Soundtrap.

As if all that were not enough, Sarah Mae has made significant contributions to music outside of the classroom as well. She has conducted Newark’s All-City Choral Ensemble and organized workshops with professional musicians through the VH1: Save the Music Foundation and GRAMMY Museum. She has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and contributed to various recordings, including Arturo O’Farrill’s “Four Questions,” which won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Sarah Mae attended the Westminster Choir College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2013. Westminster is a residential conservatory of music formerly located in Princeton, New Jersey. In the Fall of 2020, the college relocated to Rider University’s Lawrenceville campus.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Sarah Mae is one of up to 60 educators to receive the Milken Educator Award for the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Elem teacher Crystal Doi of Hawaii garners prestigious 2022 PAEMST award 

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Elementary school teacher Crystal Doi of Hawaii has garnered a prestigious 2022 PAEMST award. Photo Credit: Lifechanger.com

I always enjoy sharing stories about fine educators who have earned honors for their work in the classroom. One of these is Crystal Doi, an elementary school teacher from Hawaii who has garnered a prestigious 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Currently, Crystal is teaching sixth grade math and science at Kapunahala Elementary School in the Windward School District. Before that, she coordinated the science curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Nu’uanu Elementary School in the Honolulu District. Prior to that, she taught sixth graders at Nu’uanu Elementary School in the Honolulu District, at Lili’uokalani Elementary School, and at Nimitz Elementary School. In all, her career as an educator has spanned 15 years.

Crystal has been instrumental in developing STEM instruction in her school and in her district. She was a participant in a district-wide science program called RIP-ing Through Science. While in the program, she authored a chapter in a book called “Look at Us Now!: Making Scientific Practices Matter in the Classroom… and Beyond.” She also co-authored a presentation delivered during the NSTA 2010 National Conference of Science Education.

And as if all that were not enough, Crystal was the teacher-coordinator for her school’s Gardening and Nutrition Program entitled ‘Aina in Schools. The curriculum for this program covers sustainability, nutrition, cooperation, and agriculture —traditional and modern.  She worked with outside agencies and nonprofit groups to acquire needed materials and manpower to construct planter boxes, have soil delivered to school to fill the boxes, have the students plant various types of produce, and have the students maintain and watch these plants and vegetables grow. Then the students harvested the plants and vegetables, cooked them, and consumed what was grown.

Crystal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu and her Associate of Arts from Kapi’olani Community College. She earned her license in Early Childhood Eduction from Hawaii Teachers Standards Board. She has also completed the requirements for certifications for STEM and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, both for kindergarten through sixth grade.

Well done, Crystal!