Tag Archives: English Teachers

Former English teacher Annette Meyers is a well-known mystery writer

Posted on by

Former high school English teacher Annette Meyers is also a talented and well-known mystery writer. Photo Credit: Annette Meyers

Many talented authors were once outstanding classroom teachers. This is true of Annette Meyers, a mystery fiction writer who was also a high school English teacher.

Annette was born on January 31,1934, in New York City. She was raised on a chicken farm in Toms River, New Jersey. After her graduation from Toms River High School in 1951, she earned her degree in English from Douglass College in 1955. From 1955 to 1960 she works as a high school English teacher. From 1960 to 1976 she worked as an assistant to Broadway theater director and producer Harold Prince.

After her marriage to writer and actor Martin Meyers, Annette focussed her efforts on her writing career. She published her first book, The Big Killing, in 1989.

Since then, Annette has become well-known for her Smith and Wetzon series. In these books, the author features headhunters Xenia Smith and Leslie Wetzon, who stumble over bodies on Wall Street and Broadway.

Annette’s Olivia Brown series, which includes the novels Free Love and Murder Me Now, is set in the 1920’s in Greenwich Village. This series features a young woman poet in the mode of Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Then there is the Dutchman series, which she co-wrote with her late husband and published under the joint pseudonym Maan Meyers. To date, there are seven history mysteries in the series, and numerous short stories that feature characters from the novels.

Her stand-alone novel Repentances is psychological suspense. In this book, the setting is 1936, in New York’s Jewish immigrant community. One of Annette’s short stories was included in Best American Mystery Stories, 2002.

To examine the author’s website, click on this link to www.meyersmysteries.com.

Military veteran and teacher LouAnn Johnson known for memoir on which movie “Dangerous Minds” was based

Posted on by

US military veteran and teacher LouAnn Johnson became famous for writing the book on which the movie Dangerous Minds was based. Photo Credit:US Marine Corps

Sometimes teachers feel like running our classroom is a lot like being in the military. We have to organize our time like clockwork, plan our lessons in meticulous detail, and often instill some regimental discipline on highly-energized recruits. One Chalkboard Champion who has done all this very successfully is LouAnne Johnson, an educator, author, journalist, and former servicewoman in both the US Navy and the US Marines.

LouAnne is best known for her book My Posse Don’t Do Homework, which was adapted as the film Dangerous Minds starring Michelle Pfeiffer in 1995, and a television series starring Annie Potts in 1996.

LouAnne was raised in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. After her graduation from high school, she enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but dropped out after a few weeks to enlist in the US Navy, who sent her to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. She served nine years on active duty, achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class. She wrote about her experiences during these years in her 1986 book Making Waves: A Woman in This Man’s Navy. She later transferred to the US Marine Corps, where she rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. Throughout her military service, LouAnne earned the Navy Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Award for her work as a journalist and ​radio-television broadcaster.

When her stint in the Marine Corps was completed, LouAnne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California, her Master’s degree in Teaching English from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sage Colleges in Albany, New York.

In 1989 LouAnne garnered her first position as an educator at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where she began teaching reading and writing to non-English speakers as an intern. Two years later, she was appointed Department Chair of a special program for at-risk teens. During the government evaluation of ten similar pilot programs, LouAnne’s group was rated first in academic achievement, increased self-esteem, and student retention. Since then, LouAnne has taught English, adult basic education, developmental reading, and writing at high schools and colleges.

To learn more about LouAnn, click on this link to the APB Speakers Bureau.

Middle school educator Kerrie Gill named DoDEA’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

Middle school English teacher Kerrie Gill has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year for the US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Photo Credit: DoDEA

Many outstanding educators have earned recognition for their work with young people in the classroom. One of these is Kerrie Gill, an American middle school teacher who works on a military base in Belgium. She has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year by the US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

In a career that spans 13 years, Kerrie currently teaches at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American Middle School in Mons, Belgium. There she serves the students of US military personnel and NATO partners. She teaches courses in English Language Arts, Creative Writing, and Advancement for Individual Determination (AVID).

As a product of DoDEA schools herself, Kerrie says. her passion for teaching military-connected students originates from her experience as a self-described “army brat.” In her classroom, Kerrie says she believes in fostering authentic relationships, creating student-led collaborative learning environments, and empowering students to take an active role in their own learning. 
 
In addition to her work in the classroom, Kerrie serves her school community as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and the Campus Executive Leadership Team. She also supports students and colleagues as the Sixth Grade Team Lead, Continuous School Improvement Chair, and Site Literacy Lead. 
 
Kerrie’s selection as the DoDEA’s 2024 Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition this Chalkboard Champion has earned. While working in Kentucky, she garnered the Elizabethtown Independent Schools Excellence in Teaching & Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award, and she was named a City of Elizabethtown Outstanding Citizen. Most recently, she was named the 2024 Americas Southeast Teacher of the Year by the DoDEA.

Kerrie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Behavioral Disorders with an emphasis in middle grades English from Eastern Kentucky University. She has also completed two Master’s programs in Education with a focus as a teacher leader and a literacy specialist, both from the University of the Cumberlands. 

Kimberly Kane one of seven finalist for Colorado’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

Middle school Language Arts teacher Kimberly Kane has been named one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Delta Middle School

There are many deviated and talented educators working in Colorado’s public schools. One them, Kimberly Kane, a middle school Language Arts teacher fro Delta. She was named as one of seven finalists for the state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year honors.

Kimberly teaches courses in English and Language Arts to sixth graders at Delta Middle School in Delta County, Colorado. There she enjoys a reputation for creating a positive, inclusive learning environment. Kimberly says she believes that authentic relationships, consistency in instruction, and expectations are the keys to success in helping every student succeed both in and out of the classroom. To further support her students, she implemented a school-wide peer tutoring program.

In addition to her classroom curriculum, Kimberly mentors her district’s new teachers, guiding them through best practices in classroom management and instructional strategies.

For her hard work and expertise with new teachers and peer tutors, Kimberly was honored by her district with the Passion for Teaching Award. In addition, she was recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as their Teacher of the Year for Delta County and the Western Slope. The organization chose Kimberly for this award for her active role in developing citizenship and patriotism within her school’s student body.

Kimberly earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Interdisciplinary Studies and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education Social Studies, both from Liberty University, a private university located in Lynchburg, Virginia.

NY teacher Lydia Santana garners 2023-2024 Big Apple Award

Posted on by

High school English teacher Lydia Santana has garnered a 2023-2024 Big Apple Award from New York City Schools Department of Education. Photo Credit: Lydia Santana

New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) does a fine job of recognizing their most outstanding teachers. This year, they have honored nearly 50 classroom educators who work in public schools within New York. One of these is Lydia Santana, a high school English teacher who has been named a recipient of their 2023-2024 Big Apple Award.

Lydia teaches at Newtown High School in the Queens North High Schools District. She instructs courses in Advanced Placement Language and Composition and Honors English to seniors and juniors. She has taught at the school for the past 14 years. In her classroom, Lydia cultivates a confident, active and engaging instructional environment. According to the NYC DOE, Lydia provides frequent opportunities to elevate student voices, many of whom are English language learners still developing their language skills.

Lydia earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Queens College in 2009. While there, she was inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society.