Tag Archives: Foreign Language Teachers

Caroline Boa Henderson: Teacher and Dust Bowl chronicler

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High school English and Latin teacher Caroline Boa Henderson, left, chronicled her experiences in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl.

I love to share intriguing stories of dedicated educators who exhibit talents in arenas outside of the classroom. This one is about Caroline Boa Henderson, a high school English and Latin teacher who is also celebrated as an author of her personal Dust Bowl survival story.

Caroline Boa was born on April 7, 1877, in Wisconsin, the eldest daughter of affluent farmers. Even as a young girl, Caroline dreamed of someday owning a piece of land she could call her own.

After her high school graduation, Caroline attended Mt. Holyoke College, where she earned her degree in languages and literature in 1901. The new graduate accepted her first teaching position in Red Oak, Iowa, where she taught high school English and Latin from 1901 to 1903. She then taught in Des Moines, Iowa, until 1907. Then, in pursuit of her childhood dream, Caroline relocated to Texas County, Oklahoma, where she staked out a homestead claim on a quarter section of land and moved into a one-room shack which she christened her castle. There she accepted a teaching position in the local school.

In 1908, Caroline married named Bill Henderson, a Texas County farmer. The couple established a farm in nearby Eva, Oklahoma. The following year, Caroline gave birth to a daughter they named Eleanor. When Eleanor came of age, the youngster enrolled at the University of Kansas, where she eventually completed her bachelor’s degree. In order to help pay for Eleanor’s education, Caroline relocated to Lawrence, Kansas, where the two women shared an apartment while Caroline taught school part-time. During this period, Caroline also enrolled in graduate courses in English at the University of Kansas. In 1935, she completed the requirements for her master’s degree.

During the years from 1931-1937, at the height of the Dust Bowl, Caroline published a series of letters and articles in the prestigious magazine Atlantic Monthly. These letters and articles chronicled the grueling conditions faced by farmers who elected to remain on their farms during the severe conditions presented by the Dust Bowl drought, as harsh a natural disaster as any our nation has seen, even in recent years. She also included descriptions of daily life on her own farm, including her experiences with housekeeping, canning, cooking, tending her vegetable and flower gardens, ironing, and caring for her chickens. Her letters and articles earned her a national following, and were included in a PBS special on the Dust Bowl created by Ken Burns in 2012. To read some excerpts from these published pieces, click on the link Letters from the Dust Bowl.

This very amazing teacher and talented author passed away on August 4, 1966, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Foreign language teacher Elisabeth Kahn named Vermont’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

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Middle school foreign language teacher Elisabeth Kahn has been named Vermont’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

I enjoy sharing stories about teachers who have earned applause for their hard work in the classroom. One of these is Elisabeth Kahn, a middle school foreign language teacher from Montpelier, Vermont, who has been named her state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

“This is an incredible honor,” expressed Elisabeth. “But no teacher works in isolation. We always look to our students and our colleagues for inspiration, fresh perspectives, and to challenge our thinking, and I’m so lucky to work with some of the best around,” she continued.

Elisabeth was born in Berlin, Washington County, Vermont. She was raised in Montpelier and attended elementary and middle schools in the city before graduating from The Taft School in Waterford, Connecticut. The honored educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish and her Master’s degree in French, both from Middlebury College. She is also a 2020 candidate for National Board certification in French. Her career as an educator has spanned 12 years.

Currently Elisabeth teaches fifth, seventh, and eighth grade French and Spanish at Main Street Middle School (MSMS) in Montpelier. She has taught there five years. The chalkboard champion has also taught at the Hamlin School in San Francisco, California, and at St. Paul’s School for Boys in Brooklandville, Maryland. In addition, for five years she worked at Putney Student Travel developing and leading student travel programs in Europe and Africa.

Elisabeth credits her success as an educator to her hard work towards getting to know her students. She says she is aware of the power of relationships in reaching all learners. In recognition of these efforts, students at her school recognized her with the Adult Citizenship Award in 2017. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Elisabeth is a member of the MSMS Leadership Team and the Technology Committee, where she leads professional development and implements district-wide priorities. When she worked at Hamlin, she served as the chair of the Eco-Council that sought to promote sustainable practices and curriculum.

In her classroom, Elisabeth promotes the value of traveling abroad to promote cultural competence in her students. Every year she takes her eighth graders on a trip to Quebec, Canada, so they can use their skills in a real-world setting.

For her work in the classroom, Elisabeth has earned many accolades. In 2011 she was recognized with the Irene C. Abbe Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2018 she earned the UVM Outstanding Teacher Award.

To read more about this amazing educator, see the article about her at CCSSO.

World Languages teacher Jose Sologuren of Texas earns Excellent Educator Award

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World Languages teacher Jose Sologuren of Dallas, Texas, earns Excellent Educator Award.

I love to share stories about wonderful educators who have earned recognition for their dedication and hard work. One of these educators is Jose Sologuren, a World Languages teacher at Skyline High School located in Dallas, Texas. Jose was honored with an Excellent Educator Award on May 19, 2019, by the television station Channel 5 NBCDFW and Southern Methodist University.

Jose earned his degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. He has taught in the Dallas Independent School District for 13 years. This remarkable teacher supervises his school’s World Languages Department, which offers nine languages to the students. He was instrumental in adding Korean, Italian, and German language classes to the curriculum, and even helped raise the funding to help pay for those classes. In addition, he has a reputation for putting in countless hours helping students apply for college, scholarships, and opportunities to study abroad.

“All of us are the product of remarkable teachers who poured into us, who have really encouraged us to work hard, to pursue our dreams, and to really reach our full potential,” remarks Dr. K.C. Mmeje, Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Methodist University. Jose is humble about his award, though. “Give the students the tools that they’re gonna need to have a better future, to improve their lives,” says Jose. “Teaching is not just a job, it’s a calling.”

To learn more about Jose, click on this link:  Channel 5 NBCDFW

Ivonne Orozco: New Mexico’s 2018 Teacher of the Year

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Ivonne Orozco

Spanish teacher Ivonne Orozco from Albuquerque named New Mexico’s 2018 Teacher of the Year.

When she was only 12 years old, Ivonne’s family immigrated to the United States from Mexico. She started school in the US as an English-language learner, but by the time she reached high school, she was enrolled in honors courses. She also ran cross country and track, and graduated in the top 10% of her class. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education at the University of New Mexico  “But I did not get here alone,” Ivonne concedes. “I had teachers and family that set core foundations along my journey that contributed to my success. These included high expectations, staying the course, building a strong voice, and valuing “teachers and education,” she describes.

After her college graduation, Ivonne garnered a position as a Spanish teacher at Public Academy for Performing Arts in Albuquerque. She is in her fourth year there. “Every day in my classroom, I keep in mind that all students can be successful, no matter where they traveled from to get here in the morning, or how much money their parents have, or how much they still have to learn. I keep my expectations high,” Ivonne declares. “It’s unclear why there’s still a misconception out there that students facing challenges at home can’t succeed at school. That is false,” she asserts. “Lowering standards for any of our kids is a disservice. They deserve high-quality standards, options, and teachers,” she concludes.

Ivonne is committed to creating interactive, challenging lessons for all students. She has worked with a team of teachers from across New Mexico to revise blueprints for state level Spanish End of Course exams. She also contributes to an effort to reduce LGBTQ adolescent suicide. In addition, Ivonne is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Secondary Education with a focus on Reflective Practice.

 

Comedian Lennon Parham: a former high school French teacher

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Lennon Parham

High school French teacher and comedian Lennon Parham

Anyone who has been up in front of a classroom knows that teaching is, in part, a performance. So it’s no surprise when talented teachers make a name for themselves in the entertainment industry. One teacher who has done this is former high school French teacher Lennon Parham, who now works as a celebrated actress and comedian.

Lennon was born on October 27, 1976, in Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia. Her parents named her after the musician John Lennon. As a young girl, she attended Parkview High School in Lilburn, Gwinnett County, Georgia.

After her high school graduation, Lennon enrolled at the University of Evansville, a small private university located in Evansville, Indiana, under the Teach for American program. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theater.

Once she completed the requirements for her degree, Lennon accepted a position as a French teacher at T.L. Weston High School in Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi, where she taught for two years.

After fulfilling her obligation for Teach for America, Lennon began her career in the entertainment industry in earnest. Over the years, she has wracked up an impressive resume. She has made appearances in 26 episodes of the television show Playing House, 18 episodes of Accidentally on Purpose, 12 shows of Lady Dynamite, six episodes of Veep, and six shows of Best Friends Forever. She also appeared in roles on Children’s Hospital, Parks and Recreation, Bad Judge, and Arrested Development. Lennon also performed in the movies Pretty Bird, Confessions of a Splinterheads, Shopaholic, and Horrible Bosses 2.

Despite her success, the former French teacher has not entirely left the classroom. She has taught improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) training center in Los Angeles. The UCB is the only accredited improv and sketch comedy school in the country. You can learn more about this organization at this link: UCB.