Tag Archives: English Teachers

Ohio’s Aaron Taylor garners 2023 Difference Makers Award for his work in Holocaust education

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English teacher Aaron Taylor of Westerville, Ohio, garners one of eighteen 2023 Difference Makers Awards by the Columbus Jewish News for his work in Holocaust education. Photo credit: Westerville Schools

Congratulations to Aaron Taylor, an English teacher at Westerville North High School in Westerville, Ohio, who has been named one of 18 Difference Makers for 2023 by the Columbus Jewish News. The annual award honors individuals whose efforts have had a significant impact on the Jewish community in Central Ohio.

For the past two years, Aaron has been involved in a Holocaust education task force sponsored by his synagogue. The group examines how the Holocaust is taught in local schools and what resources are available to help educators teach the subject accurately and effectively. During the summer, the task force hosted its first Holocaust education seminar which was attended by nearly 50 teachers from twelve Central Ohio districts. The event provided participants with online resources and lessons they could use to teach lessons about modern-day antisemitism.

“Aaron has made a huge impact by raising awareness about Holocaust texts and perspectives in our teaching and learning communities,” says Curriculum Specialist Dr. Jill Williams of Westerville City Schools. “He brings this amazing genuine openness to intersectional conversations that makes people really want to jump in and learn more, no matter where they are with their understanding.”

This year’s other recipients of the Difference Makers Award include business executives, community volunteers, and public school and college educators. One honoree is a Holocaust survivor who has served on several civic and Jewish organizations and who has shared his personal story throughout Columbus.

“While their contributions may differ in scope and focus, our 18 Difference Makers share a common thread: The unwavering belief that they can effect change, one step at a time,” asserts Keith Adelstein, President and CEO of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company. “Through their persistent efforts, they not only enhance the lives of those directly touched by their work, but also serve as inspiration for us all, reminding us of the transformative power we each possess,” Adelstein continued.

Aaron earned Bachelor’s degree in Technical Theater, Theater Design and Technology and Secondary Education and Teaching from the University of Maryland in 2006. In a career that spans ten years, he has taught at Westerville North for five of them.

Dani Charbonneau named Massachusetts’ 2023 Teacher of the Year

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English teacher Danielle “Dani” Charbonneau of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

There are many exceptional educators throughout our country who have earned recognition for their work with young people. One of these is Danielle “Dani” Charbonneau, a high school teacher from Massachusetts who has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Dani teaches English and Language Arts and courses in creative writing at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in Oak Bluffs. On her campus, she is the program co-ordinator and a teacher in the alternative program. This program, which serves students in grades 9—12, ensures that students have a school experience that includes a sense of belonging and an understanding of life beyond the island. Part of the program involves a retreat to a nearby Penikese, an uninhabited island, where students experience nature without the distractions of technology, electricity, and indoor bathrooms. Another part of the program includes a fundraiser for Chopped for Charity, a local food bank, and Island Lore Night, where students and community member present historical fiction and spooky stories and excursions to Boston.

As if all this were not enough, Dani also serves as the co-advisor of her school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance, a position she has held since 2018. She also helped create lessons in response to the murder of George Floyd and the resulting protests.

Dani earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Harvard University. She completed the requirements for a second Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University. She earned her Master’s degree in Education Leadership from the University of New England. Before becoming a teacher in 2004, Dani worked as an editor at CBS. In a career as an educator that spans 19 years, she has spent eight of them teaching in Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools.

 

Elem teacher Trinity Whittington named 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year finalist

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Elementary school teacher Trinity Whittington has been n Amed one of five finalists for the title of 2023 Floria Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Florida Department of Education

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Trinity Whittington, an elementary school teacher from Gilchrist County, Florida. She has been named one of five finalists for the title of 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year.

Trinity teaches English Language Arts and Social Studies to fourth graders at Bell Elementary School in the Gilchrist County School District. She has worked in this position for the past five years.

Trinity has obviously earned the respect of her colleagues. “Mrs. Whittington’s classroom is a place of magic, where children are hooked from the moment they enter until the moment they leave,” declares Bell Elementary Principal Suzanne Matte. “The relationships she develops with students, parents, and colleagues are true and binding.”

This exceptional educator focuses on creating engaging lessons that affect her students in positive ways. One of the ways she emphasizes community service is by leading school-wide efforts to provide blankets to the local nursing home. She has also established a library swap program to promote literacy.

It was her mother’s influence that caused her to pursue a career in education, says Trinity. “She has been a teacher for my entire life. I have seen firsthand the impact that she has been able to make on the children that she has been blessed to teach,” Trinity explains. “Mama has a true passion for teaching and working to better the lives of our children. I wanted to make that same impact on the students in our community,” she continued.

Trinity earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2017 from Saint Leo University, a private university located in St. Leo, Florida. She graduated summa cum laude.

Five finalists were chosen for 2023 Teacher of the Year from nearly 185,000 public school teachers nominated throughout the state. The finalists were selected on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service.

CA educator Catherine Borek: Her enthusiasm is infectious

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Here is English and Theater Arts teacher Catherine Borek of Compton, California. Her love for her students and for her work with them is absolutely infectious. No wonder she was named one of five California State Teachers of the Year. Just watch this video about her which was made a year ago, when she was selected the 2022 Teacher of the Year by the Compton Unified School District, and you’ll see what I mean.

Catherine teaches Advanced Placement English Literature and Drama at Dominguez High School. It was the Teach for America program that originally brought her into the classroom. Since that first year, she has devoted all 26 years of her career as an educator to Dominguez.

When Catherine first started working at the school, she was dismayed to discover that the Drama program had long been defunct. Believing the performing arts to be very important, she threw her considerable energy into reviving the program. The new program’s first year, 1999, she co-produced the play Our Town with colleague Karen Greene. The efforts were recorded in a documentary which became an award-winning film.

But the teacher credits her students themselves with their successes. “What makes Compton special and what test scores don’t show is that we have some really creative students and some true problem-solvers,” declares Catherine. “That’s something to be celebrated.”

Catherine also coaches the school’s rugby team, which she founded. And as if all that were not enough, the honored teacher has led her students to the completion of the LA Marathon, collaboration with the LA Opera, and starring in a Keurig commercial.

Her hard work has not gone unnoticed. In addition to being named the 2022 Teacher of the Year by the Compton Unified School District and one of five educators named as a Teacher of the Year by the LA County Office of Education, she has also been honored as one of five California State Teachers of the Year.

“To be distinguished as Teacher of the Year is no minor designation in our district,” asserts School Board Member Micah Ali. “It says that you have made an impact in the lives of both students and your colleagues. It means that you have contributed significantly toward our district elevating and opening doors to opportunities for our students,” he concluded.

 

Briana Morales is named the Illinois 2023 Teacher of the Year

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For her work in helping traumatized and underprivileged minority students, high school English teacher Briana Morales has been named the Illinois 2023Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Illinois Public Media

Many excellent teachers deserve recognition for their work in the classroom. And some of them actually receive it! One of these is Briana Morales, an English teacher from Illinois who has been honored by the Illinois State Dept. of Education.

Briana teaches in East St. Louis at Gordon Bush Alternative Center in St. Louis, Illinois. The facility is an alternative school that serves a majority of Black students from low-income families. Briana is passionate about alternative education. “I think alternative education is representative of the underdog in all of us,” she asserts. “They are the kids that you’re rooting for to turn the tide and be who they want to be with the right resources. These are kids who may have unmet needs and lagging skills, but one caring adult can break the chains for so many children,” she continues. “We have a moral responsibility to ensure that every child has access to equitable experiences that allow them to be their authentic selves, especially in alternative education,” she declares. 

Throughout her career, Briana has been recognized for using writing and poetry to help her students process their experiences of poverty, personal loss, and violence. Her use of poetry as a therapeutic device has roots in her own childhood. “In seventh grade, I was struggling with complex life changes at home and I experienced a lot of trauma as a child,” she reveals. “My teacher at the time tried to equip me with the skills to battle everything that I was going through. She taught me how to write poetry as a way to cope,” she continues. “I wrote my first poetry book in her class and I never stopped writing,” she concludes.

In addition to her Teacher of the Year honors, Briana was named an Early Career Educator of Color by the National Council for Teachers of English in 2021. She has served as a policy fellow, senior fellow, and now a national senior research fellow with Teach Plus, where she has worked on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for students across the state through culturally responsive initiatives. Additionally, Briana serves on the school board for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, School District 428. Her career as an educator spans six years.

Briana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from St. Ambrose University in 2017 and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. She is currently pursuing a PhD in education policy, organization, and leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

To learn more about Briana Morales, click on this link to an article about her published by Chalkbeat.