Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Alabama’s Anita Gibson elected President of NEA Retired

Posted on by

Retired Alabama school teacher Anita Gibson has been elected to serve as the President of the retired teacher division of the National Education Association (NEA). Photo credit: NEA

There are many retired educators who go from the classrom to positions where they lead their colleagues in positions of influence. One of these is Anita Gibson, a retired elementary school teacher from Alabama who has just been elected the President of the retired teachers division of the National Education Association (NEA).

In this position, Anita continues to earn the respect and trust of her fellow educators. Her career features many notable assignments. For example, as an active classroom teacher in DeKalb, Alabama, she was selected to manage a new work force program for non-English speaking high school students. She also wrote a grant for a program to help Native American students better explore their heritage. “It all gave me a broader perceptive about how every single day might be the ay something important happens for a student,” she says. “Everyone deserves access to the opportunities.”

For many years, Anita has been active in teachers’ unions. She served as President of the local DeKalb County Education Association, where she worked to help fellow educators struggling with classroom management or oversized classrooms. Later she served as the President of the Alabama Education Association. After several terms on the Board of the National Education Association (NEA), she was elected the President of retired teachers division on Sept. 1, 2023.

Today, her daughter teaches in the same school that Anita did, and her grandchildren are enrolled in the school. “I’m concerned about the environment my daughter goes into every day,” Anita confesses. “I want her and all educators to feel safe and valued,” she continues. “I want my grandchildren and their classmates to be successful and productive citizens, and I want educators to be able to retire with dignity. I know we can make strides toward those goals,” she concludes.

Elem teacher Trinity Whittington named 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year finalist

Posted on by

Elementary school teacher Trinity Whittington has been n Amed one of five finalists for the title of 2023 Floria Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Florida Department of Education

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Trinity Whittington, an elementary school teacher from Gilchrist County, Florida. She has been named one of five finalists for the title of 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year.

Trinity teaches English Language Arts and Social Studies to fourth graders at Bell Elementary School in the Gilchrist County School District. She has worked in this position for the past five years.

Trinity has obviously earned the respect of her colleagues. “Mrs. Whittington’s classroom is a place of magic, where children are hooked from the moment they enter until the moment they leave,” declares Bell Elementary Principal Suzanne Matte. “The relationships she develops with students, parents, and colleagues are true and binding.”

This exceptional educator focuses on creating engaging lessons that affect her students in positive ways. One of the ways she emphasizes community service is by leading school-wide efforts to provide blankets to the local nursing home. She has also established a library swap program to promote literacy.

It was her mother’s influence that caused her to pursue a career in education, says Trinity. “She has been a teacher for my entire life. I have seen firsthand the impact that she has been able to make on the children that she has been blessed to teach,” Trinity explains. “Mama has a true passion for teaching and working to better the lives of our children. I wanted to make that same impact on the students in our community,” she continued.

Trinity earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2017 from Saint Leo University, a private university located in St. Leo, Florida. She graduated summa cum laude.

Five finalists were chosen for 2023 Teacher of the Year from nearly 185,000 public school teachers nominated throughout the state. The finalists were selected on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service.

Nebraska educator Esther Pilster well-known for community service and philanthropy

Posted on by

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.

 

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

Posted on by

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.

 

Rebecca Hart garners NYC 2023-2024 Big Apple Award

Posted on by

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.