Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Pioneering broadcast journalist and schoolteacher Nancy Dickerson

Posted on by
Nancy Dickerson

Pioneering broadcast journalist and schoolteacher Nancy Dickerson

Because of their experience as leaders in the classroom, educators are ideally suited to professions that require grace on a stage. One former teacher who exemplified this grace is Nancy Dickerson, a pioneering broadcast journalist, who was once an elementary school teacher in Wisconsin.

Nancy was born on January 19, 1927, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. After her high school graduation, she first attended Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, and then transferred to University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1948.

After earning her college degree, Nancy accepted a position as an elementary school teacher in Milwaukee. In 1951, she moved to Washington, DC. But Nancy dreamed of a career as a broadcast journalist, specifically as a reporter of political news. To achieve this goal, she completed courses in speech and drama at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

The former teacher worked diligently, and was able to realize her goal. In 1960, Nancy was selected to be the first woman reporter to cover the Presidential elections for CBS News. During her time at CBS, she covered the presidential campaigns of Hubert Humphrey and Lyndon Johnson, the assassination and funeral of President Kennedy, and key events of the Civil Rights Movement, including the 1963 March on Washington. In 1971, Nancy took a major step forward when she launched her career as an independent broadcaster and producer. From 1971 to 1974, she was the first woman to have a daily news program on network television, Inside Washington. In 1980, Nancy founded the Television Corporation of America, where she produced quality documentaries for the Public Broadcasting System.

For her outstanding work as a journalist, Nancy earned many awards. She earned a Peabody Award and the Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association, and received honorary degrees from American International College and Pine Manor College.

Sadly, in 1996, at the age of 69, Nancy suffered a stroke. She passed away the next year in New York City on October 18, 1997. She was interred at Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband, John C. Whitehead, a Navy veteran.

To read more about this pioneering chalkboard champion, see her obituary at the The Washington Post.

 

Elementary school teacher and celebrated folk artist Frances Curry Brown

Posted on by
Frances Curry Brown

Elementary school teacher and celebrated folk artist Frances Curry Brown

Talented educators very frequently earn acclaim in fields outside of the classroom. Elementary school teacher and celebrated folk artist Frances Curry Brown exemplifies this.

Frances Louise Netherland was born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, on October 19, 1925, the daughter of Harley and Lenore (Spencer) Netherland. As a child, Frances was raised on her father’s farm in Jennings County, Indiana.

After her high school graduation, Frances earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Ball State University located in Muncie, Indiana. She also earned a Doctoral degree at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. After her college graduation, Frances accepted a position as a third grade teacher in Liberty, Indiana.

When her son moved his family to Mississippi in the early 1970s, Frances began to create picture cards to send to her two-year-old granddaughter, Margaret. Over time, her art earned her a reputation as a gifted primitive artist. Known as Grandma Fran, the talented teacher typically painted scenes from her childhood in Indiana. Her pictures often depicted her life on the farm before electricity and plumbing.

Frances earned patronage from those in high places. In the late 1970s, former President Jimmy Carter indicated he was seeking artworks for his cabin. When he called for artists to submit their art pieces for a presentation, Grandma Fran’s art was chosen as one of the winners. In 1981, Luci Johnson Turpin, the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, was traveling through the Ozark Mountains when she came across Grandma Fran’s works in a gallery. Over time, the president’s daughter commissioned two paintings from Frances. Today, Grandma Fran’s paintings hang in numerous galleries around the world, including the Smithsonian and the National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC, and the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City.

In 2006, the former teacher was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Three years later, she was placed in a nursing home in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas. She passed away at age 87 on December 4, 2012, and was interred in Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, Florida.

To read more about this amazing teacher and artist, see Leaving a Legacy: Grandma Fran.

"Moving Day"

“Moving Day” by celebrated folk artist Francis Curry Brown

Margaret Herrera Chavez: New Mexico teacher and celebrated artist

Posted on by

There are many examples of talented classroom teachers who have distinguished themselves in other professions. Elementary school teacher and celebrated artist Margaret Herrera Chavez is a shining example of this.

Margaret was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1912, the daughter of ranchers. She was raised in Gascon, Mora County, New Mexico. As a young woman, Margaret worked as an elementary school teacher. For a time, she also worked for the Works Progress Administration.

Margaret Herrera ChavezIn addition to teaching, Margaret was a self-taught artist. She painted primarily in watercolors and oils, and experimented with printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. She later completed formal training at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She also attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque and the Instituto San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico.

The natural environment of northern New Mexico where she was raised provided the greatest inspiration for Margaret’s art. Her pieces featured mostly broad landscapes painted in light colors. Margaret’s Nuevo Mexicana art pieces were so exceptional that she was able to exhibit her work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she won several prizes. Currently, her pieces are part of the permanent collection of Highlands University, the New Mexico Museum of Art, and the Museum of International Folk Art.

In addition to her own successes, the former teacher was eager to promote the work of other emerging women artists. She was able to accomplish this as a member of the Hispanic Cultural Society, the New Mexico Education Association, and the National Education Association. She also served as the president of the Albuquerque branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

Margaret passed away in Alburquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, in 1992. To read more about this educator and artist, see Printmakers You Should Know.

Elementary teacher and acclaimed author John Bibee

Posted on by
John Bibee

Teacher and children’s author John Bibee.

Many excellent classroom teachers are also gifted authors. One example of this is elementary teacher John Bibee, who also happens to be a celebrated children’s book author.

John was born on January 2, 1954, in Delaware. His father was a horticulturist and his mother was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist. When he was a young boy, his family moved frequently, living for periods of time in Florida, Missouri, and Colorado. When he was in the eighth grade, John’s family returned to Delaware.

During his childhood, John’s parents nurtured his deep love for reading. His passion for writing was inspired by his eighth grade English teacher, Norman Reynolds. Early in life John determined to write inspirational stories for kids. In fact, many of his books have been read aloud on radio during children’s story hours.

John has authored many books for young people. He has published eight books in the Spirit Flyer Series, and eight mysteries in the Home School Detectives series. John’s stories, many of which are allegorical in nature, stimulate the imaginations of his readers through adventure tales and fantasy stories that lead the characters into the Deeper World, a place where children play an important role in the struggle between good and evil.

John’s work has won widespread acclaim. Several of his books have won awards from Christian Home & School Magazine. To check out his books on InterVarsity Press website, click on John Bibee.

San Francisco Educator Ninive Clements Calegari, Champion for Improved Teacher Salaries

Posted on by

Many successful classroom teachers campaign vigorously to improve the professional conditions of everyone in the profession. One such educator is Ninive Clements Calegari, an elementary school teacher from San Francisco, California.

Ninive attended Santa Catalina School, where she graduated in 1989. She then enrolled in Middlebury College, a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Studio Art in 1993. Ninive earned her Master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard in 1995.

Ninive, a classroom teacher in San Francisco public schools for ten years, has worked tirelessly to increase respect for accomplished classroom instructors. “We can’t overestimate the importance of teachers who are able to survive a demanding schedule, day after day, and bring magic into the classroom,” declared Ninive. “I’m completely awestruck by teachers who can do both.” The indefatigable educator founded and currently serves as CEO of The Teacher Salary Project, a non-profit organization designed to build the political support necessary to transform how American society values effective teachers. In addition, with writer Dave Eggers and Daniel Moulthrop, Ninive co-authored the book Teachers Have It Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of America’s Teachers, published by New Press in 2005. The book argues that an essential element to meaningful school reform is increasing teachers’ salaries.

You can purchase Ninive’s informative book at amazon.com by following this link: Teachers Have It Easy. It is available in both print and kindle versions.