Elementary teacher and principal Esther Pilster was well-known for community service and her philanthropy. Photo credit: Find a Grave

Many fine educators also become well-known in for their service to the community and for their philanthropy. One of these was Esther Pilster, an elementary school teacher and principal from Omaha, Nebraska.

Esther was born on Nov. 11, 1916, on a farm near Wymore, Nebraska. As a young girl, she graduated from Otoe Consolidated High School in the nearby town of Barneston. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and completed her teacher training at Peru State College in 1938.

Esther inaugurated her career as an educator in a one-room school house in rural Gage County. In the 1940s, she taught in schools of Neligh, Seward, and Chadron until she settled in Omaha, where she taught in Omaha public schools. In the 1950s, Esther taught at a highly-acclaimed summer reading clinic for gifted children in Omaha. In 1960, she was elected President of the Nebraska Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a prestigious professional organization that promotes the professional success of women educators. In 1961, she became the first principal of Boyd Elementary School, and held that positions until her retirement in 1982.

Even after her retirement, Esther was very active. She presented book reviews and programs for professional groups in the Omaha area. She often appeared in costume, donning the personas of the Statue of Liberty, Betsy Ross, and Mother Goose, among others. She even delivered a presentation about the First Ladies of the United States dressed as a White House maid. In 1984, Esterh was selected to serve as a Congressional Senior Intern in Washington, DC.

In 2006, Esther donated her family ranch, which spanned over 3,700 acres of land, towards the creation of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College. She made the donation in memory of her husband, Raleigh, who had also been a highly-respected educator. The center promotes teaching agricultural skills and supports a program for agronomy research. Of Welsh descent, Esther was also involved in the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Museum and the Welsh Society of Nebraska.

For her philanthropic work, Esther has earned many accolades. In 1979, she was named “Queen of Keystone,” an honorary title given to notable people in Keystone, North Omaha. In 1997, the city renamed a park the Esther Pilster Park in her honor. In 2006, she garnered a key to the City of Omaha for her years of dedication to the community. And in 2008, she was honored by the Omaha World Herald as an “Outstanding Educator.”

Sadly, this amazing Chalkboard Champion passed away on July 20, 2014. She was 97 years old. She is interred in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Omaha.

Elementary school teacher Rebecca Hart has garnered a Big Apple Award from the City of New York. Photo credit: Teachers Who Tutor NYC

The city of New York is very proud of their public school teachers. In fact, city leaders regularly honor exceptional educators with their annual Big Apple Awards. For the 2023-2024 school year, one of these exceptional educators was  Rebecca Hart, an elementary school teacher from Brooklyn. In fact, she is one of 15 exceptional teachers who have garnered a 2023-2024 Big Apple Award from the City of New York.

The honored educator teaches first grade at Brooklyn Arbor elementary, also known as PS 414, in Brooklyn. She has previously taught grades 2, 3, and 4. In a career that spans 10 years, she has taught seven of them in New York City. Prior to that, she taught or three years in Manatee County. When she is not in her classroom, Rebecca manages an after-school musical theater program for fourth and fifth grade students.

Rebecca earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2013. She earns her Master’s degree in in Literacy Specialist from Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City in 2022.

The Big Apple Awards recognize and celebrate New York City teachers who inspire students to be their best selves, dream, and advocate for their future; model equitable learning with high expectations for the diverse and dynamic needs of all students; affirm students’ identities, unique gifts, and genius; enrich their school communities by partnering with families, community members, and community-based organizations. The recipients were chosen through a rigorous selection process that includes community nominations, principal recommendations, classroom visits, an interview, and a review by a board of judges. To learn more about the program and this year’s recipients, click on this link to Big Apple Awards.

Elementary school teacher Dana Andrews has been named the 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Illinois state PTA. Photo credit: The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Congratulations are due to Dana Andrews, an exceptional elementary school teacher who has been named the 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Parent Teachers Association (PTA).

Dana teaches at Twin Echo Elementary School in Collinsville, Illinois. There she designs curriculum to meet the individual needs of each one of her young students. She uses frequent assessments to help her design instruction that is engaging and promotes individual growth. And the benefits of her strategies are evident to all. Her test scores rank among the highest in her district.

In her practice, Dana places a huge emphasis on relationships. “Her love for her students is evident in her everyday interactions, observes Dr. Julie Haake, Principal of Twin echo Elementary. “She is always cheerful, positive and sharing hugs when walking down the hallway. Her kind nature and warm personality have students gravitating towards her when they see her,” Dr. Haake continues.

To help foster communication between the school and the home, she establishes a folder for each student enrolled in her class. Every day she adds questions, comments, or notes of praise in the student logs, and then she sends the logs home. Each parent is encouraged to add their own questions or comments and then return the folder the next morning. In addition to the daily comments, Dana includes a weekly schedule with the current week’s list of events, plans, and important reminders.

In addition to the communication log, Dana makes daily posts on the classroom website. These posts include pictures of the class activities, updates on the students, and they are currently learning as a class. Furthermore, each week Dana messages parents individually to keep them updated.

Amazing work, Dana!