Tag Archives: English Teachers

Lee Perez named 2022 Nebraska State Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to middle school educator Lee Perez, who has been named the 2022 Nebraska State Teacher of the Year!

Lee currently teaches English as a Second Language to students in grades 5 through 8 at Alice Buffet Magnet Middle School in the Omaha Public School system. He inaugurated his teaching career in 2008 at Marrs Magnet Middle School in Omaha. There he taught a seventh grade World Studies-Dual Language Program until 2019.

Lee employs a comprehensive approach to reach his students. He combines culturally responsive teaching and language learning engagement strategies,. His goal is to teach his students a new language while celebrating his students’ own backgrounds and cultures in the classroom. “It is important to embrace diversity. We should acknowledge that being different is special and these differences should be showcased during learning,” Lee asserts. “Good teaching isn’t always about effective lesson planning, data, assessments, or observations with administrators. It’s about empowering our students to strive to be the best versions of themselves socially, emotionally, intellectually, and academically,” he continues.

In addition, Lee uses the power of his own childhood experiences to guide his approach to his students. “I just want my students to know that I had a tough life growing up, and just because you have a hard life growing up doesn’t mean you can’t reach your dreams,” reveals Lee.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Lee is an active member in the community. He is a member of the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, the Omaha Education Association Metro Board, the Nebraska State Education Association, and the English Learner Curriculum Pathway Committee for Omaha Public Schools.

Lee is an alumnus of the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

The Teacher of the Year program recognizes the contributions of classroom teachers who are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, skilled and who have the ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.

 

Educator Marilyn Pryle named PA’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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High school English teacher, author, and public speaker Marilyn Pryle has been named Pennsylvania’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Marilyn Pryle.

Many outstanding teachers from all over the country have been recognized for their talent in the classroom. One of these is Marilyn Pryle, a high school Language Arts educator from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. She has been named her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Currently, Marilyn teaches at Abington Heights High School, where she has worked for the past 11 years. The school is a highly rated, public school located with an enrollment of 1,075 students in grades 9-12. The student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Previously, Marilyn taught in Boston and Philadelphia. But she inaugurated her professional career in Kathmandu, Nepal, where for two years she worked as a Jesuit International Volunteer. Inall, her career as an educator has spanned 20 years.

In addition to her work in the classroom, has authored seven books for educators on the subject of teaching reading handwriting. She frequently presents at local, state, and national conferences. And, as if all that were not enough, this indefatigable teacher is also an organizer of the Scranton English Conversation Group, a community outreach program for local refugees.

“We’ve all heard that teaching is the profession that creates all other professions, and this is of course true,” asserts Marilyn. “I’d like to go a step further than that. Teaching is the profession that creates the very character of our culture. Teaching is the profession that creates the fabric of our discourse as a nation. Teaching is the profession that creates the conscience of our democracy,” she continues.

Marilyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education (1991) and her Master’s degree in Reading Education (1997), both at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. She also completed a Master’s in Fine Arts program with an emphasis in Creative Writing at Emerson College in 2000. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Wilkes University in 2020. In addition, she is a National Board Certified Teacher.

To read more about Marilyn Pryle, click on this link to her website.

Educator and author Andee Reilly releases new Christmas novel

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Educator and author Andee Reilly has just released a new Christmas romance which would make perfect reading for Winter Break. Photo credit: Andee Reilly.

Looking for a relaxing Christmas read over your Winter Break? I recommend A Christmas Love Song, a romance novel just released by English educator Andee Reilly.

Andee is well-versed in the study and teaching of excellent writing. In 1988, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge. She earned a Master’s degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1999. In 2010, she completed the requirements for a second Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside, in Riverside, California.

After earning her teaching credential, Andee inaugurated her career as an English teacher at Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, California. After a few years at the high school level, Andee was hired to teach at Moorpark College. She taught additional courses at Pierce College and the College of the Canyons, until securing a position at California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI). While at CSUCI, Andee garnered a Maximus Award for outstanding teaching. A few years later, Andee moved  to Hawaii, where she accepted a teaching position at the University of Hawaii, Maui College. There she currently teaches composition to incoming freshman.

In addition to her classroom successes, the honored educator also enjoys success as a published novelist. In 2015, Andee published her first novel, Satisfaction. This entertaining book tells the story of Ginny Martin, a recent divorcee, who embarks on a road trip to attend every concert on the Rolling Stones’ North American tour. Along the way, Ginny learns more about herself than she expected. Andee’s second book, A Christmas Love Song, gives us a romance between a has-been pop star, Jake Wilder, and Mackenzie Stone, a reporter longing to become a serious and respected journalist.

You can purchase Andee’s new release on amazon.com at the link A Christmas Love Song. You can find Andee’s first book by clicking the Satisfaction. To visit her website, click on www.andeereilly.com.

California teacher Mark Takano serves in US House of Reps

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Former California English teacher and member of the US House of Representatives Mark Takano works to improve educational opportunities for learners of all ages. Photo credit: The Advocate.

Many fine classroom teachers go on to successful careers in politics. One of these educators in Mark Takano, a former teacher who now serves in the US House of Representatives.

Mark was born on December 10, 1960, in Riverside, California. He spent his entire childhood there. As a Japanese American, he grew up listening to stories told by his parents and grandparents about their internment in an American camp during WWII. As a young boy, Mark attended La Sierra High School. When he graduated in 1979, he was named the school’s valedictorian. After his high school graduation, Mark attended Harvard, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Government in 1983. He earned a second Master’s in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Creative Writing for the Performing Arts, from the University of California, Riverside, in 2010.

Once he earned his degree, Mark worked as a substitute teacher for various public school systems in the Boston area. Later he returned to Riverside, and, in 1988, he inaugurated his teaching career in the Rialto Unified School District. He taught British Literature at Rialto High School. Only two years later, he was elected to the Board of Trustees for the Riverside Community College District. There he worked diligently to increase job training opportunities for adult learners. In 1991, Mark was elected Board President. In all, Mark taught for 23 years in public schools.

In 2012, Mark was elected elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 41st District in the US House of Representatives. His District includes Riverside, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley, and Perris. As a Congressman, he serves on a variety of committees, including the Education and Labor Committee; the Science, Space and Technology Committee; and as the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

To learn more about Mark Takano, see his Congressional website.

Former teacher Dayna Polehanki now serves in Michigan Senate

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Former English teacher and Michigan State Senator Dayna Polehanki. Photo credit: www.senatedems.com.

It is no secret that many times, talented classroom teachers become very successful politicians. An excellent example of this is Dayna Polehanki, a former English teacher who now serves in the Michigan State Senate.

In  2018, Dayna was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in the Michigan State Senate. She represents the 7th District there. She serves as the Minority Vice Chair on the Committees for Education and Career Readiness; Regulatory Reform; and the K-12 and Michigan Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

Dayna is a long-time resident of Michigan. She graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University; her teaching credentials from Alma College, a private liberal arts college in Alma, Michigan; and her Master’s degree in Teaching from Marygrove College in Detroit. She also earned an administrator credential from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. Dayna taught English in the New Haven Community Schools District. Her career as an educator has spanned 19 years.

For her work in the classroom, Dayna has earned many accolades. In 2018, she was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for New Haven Community Schools, and the year before, she was one of two recipients of the Michigan Schools and Government Educator Advantage Scholarship.

Before Dayna became a teacher, she was the manager of Features Casting at Paramount Pictures. She is also the owner of a small business. For the past ten years she has been the owner of Detroit Casting Company, and she has also served as the Michigan casting director of such productions as Alex Cross, Into the Storm, and The End of the Tour.