Tag Archives: History Teachers

Jerad Koepp of Washington named his state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations are due to History and Social Studies teacher Jerad Koepp of Washington, who has been named his state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.  Photo Credit: North Thurston Public Schools

Congratulations are due to History and Social Studies teacher Jerad Koepp of Washington, who has been named his state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Jerad, a Native American who is also known by the name of Wukchumni, has been a teacher of Native American education for over 12 years. Since 2013 he has served as the Native student program specialist for North Thurston Public Schools in Lacey, Washington. In this role, he provides cultural and academic support for approximately 230 Native American students from more than 50 tribes, nations, bands, and villages enrolled in the 22 schools within the district. His students can be found at all grade levels from kindergarten to high school seniors, and in schools throughout the district. “My classroom is indoors, outdoors, in a commons or cafeteria, sometimes a library,” Jerad says. “My classroom is wherever learning is happening.”

In addition to his work in the classroom, Jerad serves as the district’s tribal liaison. He also provides training and support for colleagues, designing, leading, and presenting numerous workshops to help create culturally-responsive programs for school districts, state agencies, organizations, and institutions of higher education. He obviously takes the work he does for area Native Americans very seriously. “Public education still has a long ways to go, but in Washington state we’ve been making steady progress,” declares Jerad. “Especially with the implementation of the Since Time Immemorial curriculum, which is a statewide mandate to teach tribal history and sovereignty in our education system,” he explained. “It’s a great resource that’s been approved by all 29 tribes.”

Jerad earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2004 in Native Education in 2004 and his Master’s degree specializing in Native Education in 2008, both from Evergreen State College located in Olympia, Washington.

 

Ohio’s Kurt Russell named the 2022 National Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to Kurt Russell, a high school history teacher from Oberlin High School in Ohio, who has just been named the 2022 National Teacher of the Year! Here he is in his appearance on CBS Mornings on April 19, 2022, being interviewed by co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson.

Christian Wright-Sa’alea of American Samoa earns territory’s 2022 Teacher of the Year award

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High school social studies teacher Christian Wright-Sa’alea of American Samoa earns her territory’s 2022 Teacher of the Year award. Photo Credit: American Samoa Department of Education

I always enjoy sharing stories about outstanding educators who have earned honors for their work in the classroom. One of these is Christian Wright-Sa’alea, a high school Social Studies teacher from American Samoa. She has been named her territory’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Christian teaches history to freshmen, juniors, and seniors at Tafuna High School in Tafuna in the Western District.

Since 2016, Christian’s students have excelled in the National History Day (NHD) competition, earning top rankings locally and Outstanding Entry recognitions nationally. She was named a teacher representative at the 2018 NHD competition in Maryland, and a judge at the Louisiana State NHD competition in 2020. In addition, she was one of two representatives from American Samoa who were nominated for the MacGregor NHD History Teacher of the Year Award in 2020.

And these are not her only accomplishments. In 2018, Christian became a member of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the leading organization dedicated to K-12 education in American history. The organization recognized Christian their US Territories History Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Tafuna High School Principal Tutuila Togilau says he is not surprised that Christian has been selected for Teacher of the Year honors. “This is a reflection of Christian’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to lifelong learning,” asserts Togilau. “Christian is very creative, artistic, and highly respected by her colleagues,” the principal continued.

As for Christian, she credits her former teachers for her success in the classroom. “To all my former teachers, I am your product,” she declares. “I’m here because of you and I will continue that same cycle for my kids as well, with the hopes that in the future, they too will inspire others and become great citizens of tomorrow,” she concludes.

Teacher Carlton Jenkins previously served in US Army

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Carlton Jenkins, a sixth-grade history teacher from Woodbridge, Virginia, served as a helicopter pilot in the US Army prior to becoming an educator. Photo credit: US Army Troops to Teachers.

Many fine educators have also served their country in the military. One of these is Carlton Jenkins, a sixth-grade history teacher from Woodbridge, Virginia, who previously served in the United States Army.

While in the military, Carlton flew a helicopter and worked as a helicopter pilot instructor. “It was there that I gained a passion for teaching and helping others to achieve their goals,” claims Carlton. “I have also had the opportunity to travel extensively and live in other countries, which has helped me grow as a person and learn more about the world around us,” he says. After he retired from the military, Carlton cast his eyes about for another way to serve his country. He found it in the classroom.

Since 2013, Carlton has taught sixth-grade American history at Lake Ridge Middle School in Woodbridge, Virginia. It was the Troops to Teachers program that helped him make the transition from uniformed pilot to grade school history teacher. “Troops to Teachers … gave me the opportunity to use the leadership skills, knowledge, and experience I learned and developed in the Army to help me have a positive effect on today’s students,” Jenkins says. “For those seeking a second career in education as a teacher, the Troops to Teachers program will help get you there,” he advises.

Carlton says his success as a teacher depends first on him setting a framework of rules and expectations. “A teacher must establish his or her expectations with rules,” he asserts. “I have only three rules: respect one another, follow the Golden Rule, and only one person speaks at a time in class,” he reveals.

To read more about Carlton, see this story published by the US Army.

California’s Carol Liu: Former educator and politician

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California’s Carol Liu, a former middle school and high school history teacher, also earned success in the political arena. Photo credit: California Competes.

Many times professional educators who have left the classroom go on to earn success in the political arena. One of these is California’s Carol Liu, a former teacher who has also served as a lawmaker.

Carol was born on Sept. 12, 1941, in Berkeley, California. Her father was an immigrant from China, and her mother was a fourth generation Californian. As a young woman, Carol attended San Jose State College, where she earned her Bachelors’ degree in 1963. She earned an Administrative Credential from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1982.

After she earned her teaching degree, Carol taught history at the junior high and senior high school level in the Richmond Unified School District. Her career as an educator spanned from 1964 to 1978. From 1975 to 19778, she also served as the Executor Director of the Richmond Federation of Teachers.

Once she left the teaching profession, Carol earned success in the political arena. First, she was elected to the City Council of La Canada Flintridge, a small city near Pasadena. She served there from 1992 to 2000. During these years, she served two terms as the city’s mayor. Next, she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the California Sate Assembly, where she represented the 44th District from 2000 to 2006. In the Assembly, Carol served on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education and on the National Commission on Accountability in Higher Education.

Last, Carol was elected to the California State Senate, where she represented the 25th District from 2008 to 2016. As a Senator, Carol served on the Legislative Advisory Committee of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. She chaired several committees and caucuses during her tenure, including the Assembly Higher Education Committee, the Assembly Select Committee on Adult Education, and the Senate Education Committee.

All her life, Carol has been a strong proponent of increasing access to higher education, as well as to career and technical education. Among her most important legislative work was SB 1143, which created the task force that led to the California Community College Student Success Act. Win addition, she was responsible for the enactment of SB 110, the Crime Victims with Disabilities Act of 2010. The bill, which assures that abuse and neglect of the elderly and people with disabilities are prosecuted as crimes, was passed unanimously by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Kudos to Carol Liu: a true Chalkboard Champion.