Tag Archives: History Teachers

Recommended reading: Tony Danza’s book about his experiences in the classroom

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Tony Danza

Tony Danza’s book about his experiences in the classroom is recommended reading.

It seems to me that in every teacher’s career, there comes a desperate moment in which we just want to be understood. We fervently wish that the public, the parents, and the media comprehended just how dedicated we are to our students, and just how hard we work on their behalf, and just how tough the job is. Tony Danza goes a long way to build this understanding in his 2012 book I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High.

Having already earned his degree in history and  his teaching credential, Danza accepted a position as a first-year teacher in an inner-city school in Philadelphia, partly because he had always wanted to teach and decided now would be a good time in his career to explore that option, and partly because the experiment could be turned into a reality show that, Danza hoped, could accomplish some genuine good by turning an empathetic spotlight on our nation’s over-worked, over-criticized, and under-paid teachers.
Throughout the book, Danza provides an insider’s perspective on many of the topics that dominate political discussion in the media and professional conversation in the teachers’ lounge, including such topics as funding cuts, high-stakes testing, high absenteeism, student apathy, and lack of parental involvement. It’s amazing how he hit the nail on the head with every chapter.
I loved this book, and how Danza eloquently voiced the frustrations of practically every teacher in America. Most importantly, I loved how much his genuine affection and respect for his students, and his strong commitment to do right by them, shines through the frustrations. It’s an inspirational book I recommend you put on your summer reading list. You can find it on amazon at I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had. Find more recommended reading on this website’s “Books to Read” tab.

Illinois social studies teacher Victor Swanson runs for US Congress

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Victor Swanson

Illinois social studies teacher Victor Swanson runs for US Congress.

Today’s highly-charged political climate is offering many opportunities for accomplished educators to run for political office. One individual who is doing that is Victor Swanson, a high school social studies teacher from Illinois who is running for a seat in the US Congress. He hopes to be elected to the 14th Congressional District on the Democratic ticket, unseating Republican incumbent Randy Hultgren.

Victor earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Science Secondary Education from Illinois State University. He earned his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Illinois University. In addition, he is a decorated veteran of the US Navy.

Victor’s career as a public school educator has spanned 18 years. He currently teaches at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, a suburb of Chicago. Victor believes his classroom experience has prepared him very well for public office. “I believe my ability to listen to multiple different perspectives has helped me. You want a representative who can talk to people and work with them to come up with the best possible solution to a problem,” he asserts.

When Victor first expressed an interest in running for Congress, he was told it would be nearly impossible to run a campaign because he has a full-time teaching job. The intrepid educator said that only increased his desire to run. “If we don’t have people in Congress who have real jobs and aren’t independently wealthy or have political connections, then we don’t have real representation,” he declares.

If elected, Victor wants to allocate more money to education. “We need to start spending our money on children and people instead of corporations and the military,” he declares. “The more we invest in our children, the greater our return on investment.”

To learn more about this amazing educator, see his candidate profile at the Daily Herald.

Educator Jeanie Smith runs for office in Kentucky State Senate

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Jeanie Smith

Educator Jeanie Smith runs for office in the Kentucky State Senate.

In the current highly-charged political climate, there are many opportunities for civic-minded educators to work towards important social changes. One educator hoping to do this is Jeanie Smith, a junior high school social studies teacher who is running for office in the Kentucky State Senate.

Jeanie is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she earned her degree in history and social studies in 2005. As a young woman, she and her husband served as missionaries in Australia, where she developed an outreach program for the needy, managed a food bank, and worked with her church to foster a greater sense of community. She also created a Sunday School curriculum for children there.

When Jeanie and her husband returned home to the United States, the couple settled in Bowling Green, where she began working with a local farmers’ market to establish a program that would help low-income families have access to fresh locally grown foods.

Jeanie has been in the classroom for five years. She currently teaches 7th grade history courses at Drakes Creek Middle School in the Warren County Pubic School System located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

This indefatigable educator is seeking election to Kentucky’s 32nd District. Her goal is to unseat the Republican incumbent, Mike Wilson. “Teachers see the realities of our communities,” the candidate asserts. “We put food in backpacks to send home on weekends. I have students with parents in jail, students with parents working two jobs. And I realized we can do better. We need lawmakers who understand the middle class and those striving for middle class. Who better to do that than a teacher?”

If elected, Jeanie says she will advocate for increased pay for the hardworking families of Kentucky and create an improved tax system. She is opposed to a new charter school law and a state pension system that’s grossly underfunded.

To learn more about this amazing educator, see her campaign website at Jeanie Smith for Kentucky.com.

Teacher Tom Niermann bids for seat in US Congress representing Kansas

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Tom Niermann

Teacher Tom Niermann bids for seat in US Congress representing Kansas.

Many teachers dedicate their boundless energy and talent to improving America’s social conditions, and this is often accomplished through public service. So it’s no surprise that in today’s political climate, educators are running for office in record numbers. One such educator is Tom Niermann, a high school social studies teacher from Prairie Village, Kansas, who is campaigning for a seat in the US Congress.

Tom was born in Wichita, Kansas, one of three sons born to working class parents. His father was a minister and his mother was a music teacher. Majoring in history, he earned his Bachelor’s degree at Valparaiso University, his Master’s degree at Wichita State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas.

In a career that has spanned 26 years, Tom has always demonstrated a keen interest in politics, but this is his first bid for public office. The current political climate inspired his run. “I’ve always told my students that our freedoms come at a price,” Tom expressed, “and that price is participation. If we don’t participate, we witness the slow erosion of our democracy.”

Two of Tom’s goals are improving the economy and making health care more affordable. “People often say it’s so refreshing to have someone run for office who knows what it’s like for working families, people who are working as hard as they can, following the rules and still finding it really hard to make ends meet,” says Tom. And he has lived the struggle. There was a time when he had to hold down three jobs in order to pay his bills. During the day, he taught American and world history at the high school. After school, he hauled furniture. Nights and weekends, he instructed courses at the local community college.

Tom is also dedicated to enacting legislation that addresses safety in school settings. “My first teaching jobs were at a psychiatric hospital and a juvenile detention center,” remembers Tom. “I went on to teach in the Wichita public school district, where I had students killed by gun violence, and even a gun brought into my classroom. I worked hard to improve my students’ lives outside the classroom, and help them resolve their conflicts non-violently. But it became clear to me that policymakers were failing my students, who faced incredible hardship at home, and expected few opportunities ahead of them.”

This accomplished educator has taught at Blue Valley West High School in Overland, Kansas, and also at Shawnee Mission East High School in his home town of Prairie Village, Kansas. He has also worked for Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri. More than a thousand of Tom’s former students have volunteered to help with his campaign.

Learn more about Tom’s campaign at his website Niermann for Congress.com.

Social Studies teacher Jeff Erdmann runs for Congressional office in Minnesota

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Jeff Erdmann

Social Studies teacher Jeff Erdmann runs for Congressional office in Minnesota.

Excellent educators often throw their considerable energy and talent into helping solve important social issues. One such modern-day educator is Jeff Erdmann, a high school social studies teacher who is currently running for US Congress in his home state of Minnesota.

For 29 years, Jeff has taught American government and history at Rosemount High School in the Twin Cities area. At the same time, he has served nearly 20 years as his school’s football coach. During his tenure as coach, the Rosemount Irish have gone to the state tournament in 7 of the past 11 seasons and they have participated in two state championship games (2010, 2013). Twice Jeff has been named the Minnesota State Coach of the Year.

Jeff is running for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, which represents the Twin Cities area, on the Democratic ticket. The candidate contends his work as an educator makes him uniquely qualified for a job as a legislator. “My preparation as a teacher is fantastic for being a representative, because every day in my classroom I’m held accountable by my students,” he asserts. “I’ve got to do my job in challenging them and in educating them. That is kind of what the representative is supposed to be about, so I think I’ve got 28 years of preparation for this.”

In addition, Jeff says that during classroom debates, he often argues the less popular viewpoint. He says this practice has taught him to see issues from all perspectives. “I think that helps dramatically when I have conversations with people that tend to vote Republican,” he theorizes. “I can understand what they’re thinking.”

Jeff earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota (1990), and his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from the University of St. Thomas in the Twin cities, Minnesota (1995).