Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Angel Santiago named NJ’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher and musician Angel Santiago of Blackwood, New Jersey, has been named his states 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: the Philadelphia Inquirer.

I enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Angel Santiago, an elementary school teacher from New Jersey who has been named his state’s 2021 State Teacher of the Year.

Angel teaches fifth grade Language Arts at Loring Flemming Elementary School in Blackwood, New Jersey. In addition, he leads an after school club called Young People of Character (YPOC), a group of fourth and fifth grade students from diverse social backgrounds. As members of the club, the students perform a variety of community service projects. Through YPOC, Angel works toward raising leaders who are strong, empathetic, and who reflect the community which, one day, they will lead.

“I teach because I get to participate in cultivating the most precious resource this world has to offer: our future, our children,” Angel declares. “Teaching is my passion,” he continues. “It is the reason why I get up every day with a positive outlook on life and the reason why I can fall asleep each night feeling fulfilled with my worldly duties,” he concludes.

Angel not only teaches, but he is also a musician. Before launching his career as an educator, he toured the country with an alternative rock band, Days Like These. The band recorded two albums together. Today, he sings and plays the guitar, and is often hired to perform at local weddings. Angel says he often infuses his lesson plans with music.

After his graduation from Vineland High School in Vineland, New Jersey, in 2002, Angel earned his Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and his Master’s degree in Education, both from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. While in college, he became a member of both Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Societies.
The honored educator has taught his entire professional career in Camden County. In 2012 he began teaching in the Lindenwold Public Schools, and in 2013 he moved to Gloucester Township Public Schools, where he teaches today.
To read more about this amazing educator, see this article about him published in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Alexis Barney named Wyoming’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher Alexis Barney has been named Wyoming’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Cowboy State Daily.

I love to share stories about talented and hardworking educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Alexis Barney, an elementary school teacher from Wyoming who has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Alexis was raised in Saratoga, Wyoming, As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming, Casper, in 2016. The same year, she earned her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology at Capella University.

Currently, Alexis teaches fourth and fifth grade at Evansville Elementary in Evansville. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Alexis serves as the English Language Arts goal team leader and on the school leadership team. She also is the School Transformation team leader, the Lego Robotics coach, and Reading Club coordinator. And as if all this were not enough, Alexis has frequently presented reading strategies at teaching conferences around the state and in Colorado.

The honored educator says her teaching philosophy is grounded in empowering students to be kind and courageous, and in creating lifelong learners who are inquisitive and excited about the world around them. She wants her students to find success, no matter their circumstances. “Our attitude is going to be infectious,” Alexis asserts. “I want to empower people to see things in a different light, helping them to find resources, and really turn those ‘can’ts’ into ‘cans.'”

For her untiring work as an educator, Alexis has earned the respect and praise of her colleagues. “Alexis is without a doubt one of the finest educators I have worked with in my nearly three decades in education,” praised Wayne Tuttle, Principal of Evansville Elementary School. “Students thrive in Alexis’ class because of her high expectations, innovative engagement strategies, and relevant learning,” he continued. “When a principal looks for an educator to be an anchor of their school for decades to come, they are searching for someone of Alexis’ quality,” he concluded.

To read more about Alexis Barney, see this article published by the Wyoming Department of Education.

Dedicated teacher and activist Elizabeth Almira Allen of NJ

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Elizabeth Almira Allen

Dedicated teacher and activist Elizabeth Almira Allen of New Jersey. Photo credit: New Jersey Women’s Association.

There are many examples of dedicated teachers who have worked tirelessly to improving the benefits and conditions of the teaching profession. One such teacher who exemplifies this is the activist Elizabeth Almira Allen of New Jersey.

Elizabeth Allen was born in Joliet, Illinois, on February 27, 1854. She was the oldest of five children born to James and Sarah Allen. Her father was a Civil War veteran. Her family lived for brief periods in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, but by 1867, they settled in New Jersey.

Elizabeth was only 13 years old when she enrolled in the Model School of Trenton, a facility associated with the State Normal School. The college is now known as Trenton State College. Two years later, Elizabeth graduated from the institution. She began teaching in Atlantic City. In 1871, she transferred to a position in Hoboken, New Jersey. In a career that spanned 48 years, she taught in the classroom and served as the principal of local elementary and high schools. She also supervised the training of new teachers at Hoboken Normal and Training School.

Throughout her career, Elizabeth worked tirelessly as a teachers’ rights advocate. In 1913, she became the first woman President of the New Jersey Education Association. In this role, she argued for tenure laws, disability benefits, and pensions for teachers.

This amazing educator could speak German and French fluently, and some Russian and Italian. She was an avid student of history. In addition, she published a book of poems entitled Golden Nails to Hang Memories On (1890) which detailed the accomplishments of famous people. Despite her limited means, she loved to travel, and made many cross-Atlantic voyages. She also visited Canada, Alaska, Central America, and Algiers.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away from congestive heart failure on May 3, 1919, at the age of 65. She is buried in Boonton, Morris County, New Jersey. You can read more about her in Pedagogies of Resistance: Women Educator Activists by Margaret Crocco and Petra Munro Henry, available on amazon.

Retired teacher Ruth Rowan serves in the WVa House of Delegates

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Retired elementary school teacher Ruth Rowan works tirelessly as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Photo credit: Vote Smart.

Many hardworking educators find second careers as politicians. One of these was Ruth Rowan, a retired elementary school teacher from Hampshire County, West Virginia, who also served in her state’s House of Delegates.

Ruth was born on September 12, 1948, in Pennsylvania. Her grandfather was a coal miner. Ruth’s ancestry runs deep in West Virginia. As a descendant of Frontier Ranger Doctor Llewellyn, her earliest forebears blazed a trail in the wilderness near the Forks of Cheat River in present-day Monongalia County, West Virginia.

As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania and her Master’s degree in Education from West Virginia University.

One she earned her education, Ruth taught elementary school in Hampshire County Schools. She also joined the West Virginia Education Association and the National Education Association. In addition, Ruth is a member of the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Children’s Home Society and the Family Crisis Center.

In 2004, Ruth was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates on the Republican ticket. She defeated the embattled House Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta for his seat after he was embroiled in a political scandal in 2003 and 2004. The former teacher has represented the 57th District since December 1, 2004, and her term of office is due to expire in 2022. As a member of the WV House, Ruth works tirelessly on legislation to benefit children, education, seniors, veterans, health care, and infrastructure. She serves on the Education, Health and Human Resources, and the Senior Issues committees. She is the minority chair of Veteran’s Affairs, minority vice chair of women’s caucus, co-chair of Crimes against children and children and families.

To read more about Ruth Rowan, see this information provided by Vote Smart.

Teacher Geraldine Flaharty serves in Kansas House of Reps

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Geraldine Flaharty, a retired elementary teacher from Kansas, serves in her state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many talented teachers have also served their communities as politicians. One  example of this is Geraldine Flaharty, an elementary reading teacher from Kansas who also serves in her state’s House of Representatives.

A native of Kansas, Geraldine was born March 4, 1936, in Parsons. She currently lives in Wichita. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University in 1961. She completed the requirements for her Master’s in Education from the same school in 1971.

Geraldine worked as an elementary teacher for Wichita Public Schools from 1956 to 1957 and as a reading teacher at Oaklawn Elementary School in the Derby Public School District from 1966. At that time, she retired after teaching after 36 years.

This talented educator was elected as a Democrat to the Kansas State House of Representatives for District 98, serving Sedgwick County, Kansas. She served there from 1995 to 2013. During her stint as a politician, Geraldine served on the committees for Education; Health and Human Services; Aging and Long-Term Care; Economic Development and Tourism; and the Joint Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Benefits. One of her legislative acts was to support a bill that would restore professional status to retired teachers who return to work. “Representative Flaharty has been a tireless advocate for the people of Wichita,” House Minority Leader Paul Davis once said. “She has been a champion for job creation, good public schools, and fair taxation.”

Throughout her long career, Geraldine has donated her talents to a number of community organizations, including the American Association of University Women, the International Reading Association, the Kansas National Education Association, the Sedgwick County Zoo, and the Wichita Center for the Arts. Geraldine Flaharty: a true Chalkboard Champion.