Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Former teacher Dolores Huerta: A formidable civil rights leader

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Former elementary school teacher and formidable civil rights leader Dolores Huerta worked tirelessly to secure better working conditions for migrant farm workers in the 1960’s. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Like many people I have heard of formidable civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. She worked tirelessly to secure better working conditions for migrant farm workers in the 1960’s. But did you know she was also once a teacher?

Dolores was born in Dawson, New Mexico, on April 10, 1930. In fact, she just celebrated her 91st birthday earlier this week. Raised in Stockton, California, Dolores graduated in 1955 with an AA and her teaching credentials from the College of the Pacific. After her college graduation, she accepted a teaching position in a rural Stockton elementary school. She had been teaching for only a short time when she realized she wanted to devote her vast energy to migrant farm workers and their families. “I couldn’t stand seeing farm worker children come to class hungry and in need of shoes,” she once explained. “I thought I could do more by organizing their parents than by trying to teach their hungry children.”

After just one year, Dolores resigned from her teaching position, determined to launch a campaign that would fight the numerous economic injustices faced by migrant agricultural workers. Joining forces with the legendary labor leader Cesar Chavez, the intrepid educator helped organize a large-scale strike against the commercial grape growers of the San Joaquin Valley, an effort which raised national awareness of the abysmal treatment of America’s agricultural workers. She also negotiated contracts which led to their improved working conditions. The rest, as they say, is history.

Although there are several fairly good juvenile biographies of this extraordinary woman, there is no definitive adult biography about her. The closest thing to it is A Dolores Huerta Reader edited by Mario T. Garcia. This book includes an informative biographical introduction by the editor, articles and book excerpts written about her, her own writings and transcripts of her speeches, and an interview with Mario Garcia. You can find A Dolores Huerta Reader on amazon. I have also included a chapter about this remarkable teacher in my second book, entitled Chalkboard Heroes.

Teacher Sarah Fain one of Virginia’s first women politicians

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Virginia school teacher Sarah Fain was one of the first two women elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Photo credit: Dictionary of Virginia Biography.

Many talented educators have also earned success in the political realm. One such educator is Sarah Fain, a public school teacher from Virginia who was one of the first two women to be elected to her state’s House of Delegates.

Sarah was born on Nov. 23. 1888, in Norfolk Virginia. She was educated first at Leache-Wood Seminary. She graduated from Hemmingway High School in 19097. Following her high school graduation, Sarah taught for 12 years in elementary schools in the Norfolk public school system. During her summer breaks, she enrolled in summer courses at the University of Virginia. The university did not offer diplomas to women in her day, but still Sarah managed to earn enough credits to qualify as the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Administration.

When World War I broke out, Sarah volunteered for the Norfolk Red Cross, and she sold Liberty bonds to help financially support the war. When the 19th Amendment was ratified, she joined the League of Women voters and became active in Democratic Party politics. In 1923, the former teacher was elected to the House of Delegates becoming one of the two first women to serve in that political body. She served  total of three terms in the House. As a delegate, Sarah focused on issues that were important to her constituents, especially education and maritime laws. During her last term, she chaired the prestigious Committee on Schools and Colleges. In addition, she voted for an anti-lynching bill that was then the strictest in the nation.

During the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Sarah was appointed to serve in several New Deal agencies, including the National Emergency Council, where she helped establish the United States Information Service and served as its first chief. She later directed a homestead community project and supervised a rural family resettlement program.

In 1938, Sarah moved to San Marino, California, and continued to participate in local politics. It was there that she passed away on July 20, 1962. She was buried at Norfolk’s Elmwood Cemetery.

To learn more about Sarah Fain, see this article about her in the Dictionary of Virginia Biography published by the Library of Virginia.

Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm: Teacher, counselor, and politician

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Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm of Texas: Elementary school teacher, high school counselor, and politician extraordinaire. Photo credit: Molly Beth Malcolm

Many fine educators become equally successful politicians. This is the case with Molly Beth Malcolm, a former elementary schoolteacher and counselor who once became the Chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party.

Molly was born on April 26, 1955. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Methodist University and her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A&M University, Texarkana. She completed the requirements for her Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a Concentration in Community College Leadership (CCLP) from The University of Texas, Austin.

Once she earned her degrees, Molly inaugurated her career as an elementary and kindergarten teacher. Between 1977 and 1984, she taught in public schools in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. She also worked as an elementary school counselor in Texarkana, as part of the Arkansas School System. Later she worked as the high school Counseling and Student Services Coordinator at Texas High School in the Texarkana Independent School District (1984-1989). There she also served as the Sophomore Class Counselor. Throughout her career in public schools, Molly has worked to improve public and higher education as a teacher, counselor, and coordinator of school counseling and drug free schools programs.

In addition to her work in schools, Molly has also made her mark in politics. In 1998, she was elected as the former Chairperson of the Texas Democratic Party. She was re-elected to the position in 2000 and 2002. Additionally, she is a former secretary of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees. Currently she serves as a member of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees in Texarkana.

For her work in the classroom, Molly has earned many accolades. She was named the Winnsboro High School Distinguished Alumna in Winnsboro, East Texas, in 2010. She has also been recognized with the Texarkana NAACP Torchbearer Award for Extraordinary Community Contributions; the Texarkana Martin Luther King Jr. Acts of Kindness Leadership Award; the Texarkana Community Journal Outstanding Woman Award; and the Four States Living Magazine Tribute to Women Award.

To learn more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see her website at Molly Beth Malcolm.

 

Covid-19 claims Florida teacher Deborah Menendez Holloway

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Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another dedicated educator. Deborah Menendez Holloway, an elementary Language Arts teacher from Jacksonville, Florida, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 11, 2021. Photo credit: Holloway family

Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another dedicated educator. Deborah Menendez Holloway, an elementary Language Arts teacher from Jacksonville, Florida, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 11, 2021. She was 51 years old.

Deborah was born on Nov. 16, 1969, on Staten Island, New York, where she was also raised. In 2000 she relocated to Florida and inaugurated her 20-year career as an educator in the Duval County Public School District. She taught three years at Rutledge Pearson Elementary School, and then moved to Love Grove Elementary, where she taught for 17 years. This year, she taught second and third grade at Arlington Elementary.

“She loved teaching,” remembers Deborah’s daughter, Regina Holloway. “She loved letting kids know that they were understood, and they weren’t alone, and they had powerful minds and voices,” Holloway continued.

The fallen educator made a deep impression on students and colleagues alike. “I first met Ms. Holloway in 2000,” remembers co-worker Dorothy Monts. “We were on the same language arts team, teaching 4th grade at Rutledge Pearson Elementary. I was new and she was so helpful with every thing I needed,” Monts says. “Her students loved her even when she had to be strict with them because they knew it came out of love. She is really going to be missed!” Monts concluded.

Former student Obri Richardson, now college-aged, agreed. “Love Grove Elementary will never be the same without my fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Deborah Holloway,” Richardson remarked. “From her comical remarks to her pouring of wisdom, she touched the hearts and souls of those on the margins. I’m glad to say I was one of them who she both taught and touched,” Richardson expressed.

To read more about this beloved educator, read this story about her published by the Florida Times-Union.

NY teacher Stefanie Clark earns Staples “Thank a Teacher” Award

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Congratulations to Stefanie Clark, a teacher from Oakfield, New York. She is one of 20 educators nationwide who have been named a recipient of a 2020 Staples “Thank a Teacher” Award. Photo credit: Oakfield-Alabama Central School District.

Congratulations go to Stefanie Clark, a teacher from Oakfield, New York. She is one of 20 educators nationwide who have been named a recipient of a 2020 Staples “Thank a Teacher” Award.

Stefanie teaches first grade at Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School. During distance learning established in response to the pandemic, Stefanie held individual online literacy lessons weekly with each of her young readers. Through these lessons, the exemplary educator encouraged and ensured her students’ continued growth.

But Stefanie’s dedication to young people is evident outside of her classroom as well. She distributed grab-and-go meals and held special virtual events during her school’s closure. These virtual events included a Fort-Nite Party where students built their own forts. She also organized a virtual Halloween Costume Party where students dressed up in costume to enjoy a bedtime story. Stefanie definitely embodies the phrase, “When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.”

As part of the recognition from the Staples “Thank a Teacher” Program, Stefanie will receive $5,000 to spend on supplies for her classroom. The office supplies store is happy to provide the cash awards to the recipients, remarked Mike Motz, Chief Executive Officer of Staples US Retail. “Staples knows that teachers will need our support more than ever — whether they’re teaching in the classroom, remotely or a combination of both,” said Motz.

To read more about Stefanie Clark, read this article published by The Batavian.