Remembering foreign language educator Barbara Edwards, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo Credit:

Today, on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, we solemnly remember all who perished 23 years ago. One of those was foreign languages educator Barbara Edwards from Las Vegas, Nevada. She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. All 64 people on board and 125 others who were inside the building at the time perished.

Barbara taught courses in German and French at Palo Verde High School, where she had worked for four years. There Barbara built her German language program from one class to six. She also served as the adviser to the school’s International Club, and she was a passionate advocate for foreign travel. Prior to teaching in Las Vegas, she taught school in Indiana.

At the time of her death, Barbara was on leave from school, recovering from injuries sustained in a previous car accident. She had been traveling to Connecticut and Virginia to visit family and attend a friend’s wedding. She was aboard the plane for her return to Las Vegas.

Every year, students and staff at Palo Verde High School remember their beloved teacher in a solemn ceremony on campus. Members of Palo Verde’s Junior ROTC officiate the ceremony at a memorial built for the fallen educator on the soccer field. Barbara was an avid soccer fan, and spent many after-school hours watching the school team play their games on that field. In addition, a scholarship for foreign language students has been established in her honor.

To fellow teacher Patti Habermas, the outpouring of grief and support from students that followed Barbara’s death demonstrate that the things she does as a teacher really do matter. “I guess I never realized that as a teacher, I really do affect students’ lives,” observed Habermas. “It never dawned on me. I now look at every school year as a treat, and hope I’ll be able to make a difference on students,” Habermas concluded.

Barbara was born on April 5, 1948, in Frankfort, Germany. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to Michigan. In high school, she was a cheerleader and the runner-up for homecoming queen. Once she graduated from high school, Barbara earned her college degree at West Michigan University. She married, became the mother of three children, and launched her career as an educator in Bloomington, Indiana. Later she accepted the teaching position in Las Vegas. She was 58 years old when she died.

World languages educator Lillian Greer Bedichek is known for her contribution to awareness of social issues in the American Southwest. Photo Credit: University of Texas

Skilled classroom teachers are often recognized for advanced accomplishments in their field. One teacher that fits this description is Lillian Greer Bedichek, a world languages teacher who is known for her contribution to awareness of social issues in the American Southwest.

Lillian was born in 1885 in Keachie, Louisiana, the daughter of James and Virginia Greer. In 1893, her family moved to Waco, Texas, because her father had accepted employment as vice president of Baylor University. Upon her high school graduation, Lillian enrolled at Baylor, but later she transferred to the University of Texas. There she majored in Greek and minored in Latin. Lillian earned her Bachelor’s degree from Baylor in 1903. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of Texas in 1926.

In 1910, Lillian married celebrated naturalist Roy Bedichek. Before her marriage, the young educator taught in Waco public schools, at Grayson College, and in Deming, New Mexico. When she became pregnant with her first child, Lillian took a break from the classroom. Before long, two additional children were born to the couple.

In 1917, Lillian returned to the classroom when she accepted a position as a Spanish teacher at Austin High School in Austin, Texas. Eventually, she became the chair of the Spanish Department there. She even published a textbook, Mastering Spanish, in 1945.

Outside of the classroom, Lillian joined a network of educators, folklorists, and writers who were active in raising awareness about social and cultural issues of the American Southwest. She contributed to the movement by writing book reviews and publishing articles about life in the Southwest, including her concerns about sharecropping and land ownership. For her efforts, Lillian was recognized in 1965 as an honorary member of the Texas Institute of Letters. In addition, the University of Texas distributes an annual scholarship named in honor of Lillian and her husband.

Lillian passed away in 1971 at the age of 86. She is buried in Eddy Cemetery in the city of Falls, Texas. To learn more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to Lillian Greer Bedichek.