Tag Archives: Language Arts Teachers

Eric Jenkins named Indiana’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year

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High school English/Language Arts teacher Eric Jenkins has been named Indiana’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Circle City Broadcasting

I am always excited to share the story of an exemplary teacher who has earned recognition for their work. One of these is Eric Jenkins, a high school teacher English from Franklin, Indiana.

Eric teaches English/Language Arts courses to sophomores at Franklin Community High School. He has taught there for the past 11 years. He also teaches an Advanced College Project composition course at Indiana University. Furthermore, he is a teacher and consultant for the Hoosier Writing Project, a program which helps educators improve their writing skills and, in the process, become better writing teachers.

The honored educator has sage advice for beginning educators. “Teach fearlessly,” he advises. “And the first kind of tenant of ‘teach fearlessly’ is that you need to not be afraid to take care of yourself. We need to be well before we can take care of our students,” he continues. “Beyond that, I think the other piece of advice is, don’t be afraid to reach out to the community for support when things are getting hard,” he says.

An Indiana native, Eric inaugurated his teaching career at the American Christian Academy in Ibadan, Niberia, in 2007. The school was located in a walled compound outside of central Ibadan, Eric remembers. “You know the joke about teachers living at school? Well, we actually did,” he recounts. “There was a house on the school grounds that we lived in, a short walk away from the classroom buildings. Three other American teachers and I shared that house,” he continues. Once he returned to the United States, he taught for three years in Trussville, Alabama. In 2014, he relocated to his home state of Indiana.

Eric earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English/Language Arts Education from Indiana University in 2007. He earned a Master’s degree in Literacy from the State University of New York, Albany. He completed the requirements for his teaching certificate from Ball State University in 2017.

To read more about Eric, click on this link to an article about him published by Indiana University, Bloomington.

Wisconsin educator Shelly Krajacic inducted into the 2024 National Teachers Hall of Fame

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English teacher Shelly Moore Krajacic of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been inducted into the 2024 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF). Photo Credit: Wisconsin Education Association Council

I am always excited when the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) announces the names of exceptional educators who have been inducted into their hallowed halls. This year, the organization has selected Shelly Moore Krajacic, an educator at South Milwaukee High School, as one of the five teachers nationwide who has been so honored.

Shelley earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Education from University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, in 199y7. She earned her Masters degree in English/Language Arts from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, in 2006. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Urban Education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in 2024. She became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2017.

 

Shelly began her career in the classroom in 1998 at Ellsworth Community High School, where she taught English and Theatre until 2018. She then taught English Education courses at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee before transferring to South Milwaukee High School in 2021. There she teaches in the English Department and serves the school as their Student Leadership Advisor. In all, her career as an educator spans 23 years.

“It is my obligation to see my students in ways they have never seen themselves,” Shelly asserts. “I need to see possibilities in them that they never knew existed and to help them believe in themselves enough to discover pathways to those possibilities,” she continues. This is a mission she does not take lightly. “Teaching is the single greatest profession there is,” Shelly declares.

The NTHF honors teachers through an annual recognition program, inducting five outstanding educators nationally every year. The organization, located on the campus of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, was founded in 1989. The recognition program annually honors five of the nation’s most outstanding PreK-12 educators who have at least 20 years of teaching experience. To visit their website, click on NTHF.

 

Military veteran and teacher LouAnn Johnson known for memoir on which movie “Dangerous Minds” was based

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US military veteran and teacher LouAnn Johnson became famous for writing the book on which the movie Dangerous Minds was based. Photo Credit:US Marine Corps

Sometimes teachers feel like running our classroom is a lot like being in the military. We have to organize our time like clockwork, plan our lessons in meticulous detail, and often instill some regimental discipline on highly-energized recruits. One Chalkboard Champion who has done all this very successfully is LouAnne Johnson, an educator, author, journalist, and former servicewoman in both the US Navy and the US Marines.

LouAnne is best known for her book My Posse Don’t Do Homework, which was adapted as the film Dangerous Minds starring Michelle Pfeiffer in 1995, and a television series starring Annie Potts in 1996.

LouAnne was raised in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. After her graduation from high school, she enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but dropped out after a few weeks to enlist in the US Navy, who sent her to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. She served nine years on active duty, achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class. She wrote about her experiences during these years in her 1986 book Making Waves: A Woman in This Man’s Navy. She later transferred to the US Marine Corps, where she rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. Throughout her military service, LouAnne earned the Navy Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Award for her work as a journalist and ​radio-television broadcaster.

When her stint in the Marine Corps was completed, LouAnne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California, her Master’s degree in Teaching English from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sage Colleges in Albany, New York.

In 1989 LouAnne garnered her first position as an educator at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where she began teaching reading and writing to non-English speakers as an intern. Two years later, she was appointed Department Chair of a special program for at-risk teens. During the government evaluation of ten similar pilot programs, LouAnne’s group was rated first in academic achievement, increased self-esteem, and student retention. Since then, LouAnne has taught English, adult basic education, developmental reading, and writing at high schools and colleges.

To learn more about LouAnn, click on this link to the APB Speakers Bureau.

Kimberly Kane one of seven finalist for Colorado’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Middle school Language Arts teacher Kimberly Kane has been named one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Delta Middle School

There are many deviated and talented educators working in Colorado’s public schools. One them, Kimberly Kane, a middle school Language Arts teacher fro Delta. She was named as one of seven finalists for the state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year honors.

Kimberly teaches courses in English and Language Arts to sixth graders at Delta Middle School in Delta County, Colorado. There she enjoys a reputation for creating a positive, inclusive learning environment. Kimberly says she believes that authentic relationships, consistency in instruction, and expectations are the keys to success in helping every student succeed both in and out of the classroom. To further support her students, she implemented a school-wide peer tutoring program.

In addition to her classroom curriculum, Kimberly mentors her district’s new teachers, guiding them through best practices in classroom management and instructional strategies.

For her hard work and expertise with new teachers and peer tutors, Kimberly was honored by her district with the Passion for Teaching Award. In addition, she was recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as their Teacher of the Year for Delta County and the Western Slope. The organization chose Kimberly for this award for her active role in developing citizenship and patriotism within her school’s student body.

Kimberly earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Interdisciplinary Studies and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education Social Studies, both from Liberty University, a private university located in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Iowa English teacher has been named the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year

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English teacher Ann Mincks of Des Moines, Iowa, has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Des Moines public Schools

Our nation is fortunate to have so many outstanding educators working in our public schools. One of these is Ann Mincks, an English Language Learner teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. She has ben named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. The award honors exceptional teachers who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and who have made a significant impact on both students and colleagues.

Currently, Ann teaches English language learners (ELL) at Hoover High School in the Des Moines Public School District. Her students range in ability levels from emerging to advanced, and span ninth through 12th graders.

During her 16 years as a professional educator, Ann has filled various roles, including working as an instructional coach and as an adjunct professor. Her passion is working with both students and staff to support the language development of all learners. “I believe our actions as educators matter,” Ann declares. “I want students to have an experience that truly breaks down the walls of the classroom and connects students to their future successes in a career and as a community member,” she continues.

Ann earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Education with a minor in Spanish and an endorsement in English Language Learner Instruction from Iowa State University located in Ames, Iowa. That was in 2007. In 2011, she earned her Master’s degree in Education with a Reading Endorsement and a Literacy Specialist Endorsement from Viterbo University located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. To read more about Ann, click on this link to the Des Moines Register.

The Iowa Teacher of the Year program was established in 1958 and is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Education. Educators who are honored serve as ambassadors to colleagues in Iowa’s schools, higher education, and communities.