Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Science educator Alex Joanis teaches Native American students

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Science teacher Alex Joanis works with Native American students on the Spokane Indian Reservation in the state of Washington.

Throughout our country, there are many talented and dedicated educators who work with culturally diverse groups of students. One of these is science teacher Alex Joanis, who works with Native American students on a reservation in the state of Washington.

Alex was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1995.  As an adolescent, he attended Santiago High School in Corona, California. After high school, he enrolled in California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in San Luis Obispo. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, cum laude, in 2017. He earned his teaching credential from the same college in 2018.

Alex cites several sources that influenced his decision to become an educator. First, he gives credit to his AP Chemistry teacher, Dr. Branton Lachman. “He was a great teacher who pushed me to do the best I could, and provided all of the resources and opportunities that I needed to achieve my academic potential and engage in authentic science learning,” Alex remembers.

Also, Alex says his experiences a a tutor deepened his resolve to go into the profession. “There’s a really neat feeling I get whenever I help someone else understand something they were struggling to get before,” he declares. “The light bulb goes off in their head, I can sense that, and I’m flush with a good feeling. It’s just nice to help people do the things they struggle to do on their own, and I like having that feeling,” he continued. “I also had an internship class in high school, where I got to drive down to my old elementary school and essentially act as a teacher’s assistant for two hours in one of the fifth grade classrooms. Just like how I loved the feeling of helping people ‘get stuff,’ I loved the feeling of building rapport with a group and being relied on for help,” he concluded.

After his student teaching experience at Templeton High School in Templeton, San Luis Obispo County, California, Alex accepted a teaching position at Wellpinit High School in the state of Washington. Alex has taught there for two years, instructing courses in biology, physics, chemistry, food science, and environmental science. The Wellpinit School District is a K-12 public school system located on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The school’s minority enrollment is 94%, and 82% of students are economically disadvantaged.

“Because I’m at a very small school, I get to sink more time into building relationships with the few students I have,” asserts Alex. “I’ve really taken a liking to this year’s sophomore class. They’re very easy-going, and now that I understand them better as individuals and as a group, I’m able to get them to engage more with the content and buy into the educational experiences I’m trying to give them,” he says.

In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Alex is one of two advisers for the sophomore class. He’s also working with a colleague to revitalize extra-curricular clubs that would provide students with leadership opportunities.

What advice would Alex share with fellow educators? He suggests that it is important to remember that there are students in your classroom that recognize the work you put into it and appreciate what you do. “Real recognizes real,” he says, “and as long as you present yourself authentically and do the best you can, you will have students that recognize that, respect the work you do, and put in some effort,” he advises.

Alex Joanis: A true Chalkboard Champion.

Physics teacher and Survivor winner Robert Crowley of Maine

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Physics teacher and Survivor winner Robert Crowley of Gorham, Maine.

Once in awhile a dedicated educator earns fame in an arena outside of the classroom. One of these educators is Robert Crowley, who earned fame for winning the reality TV show Survivor.

Robert participated in the 17th season of the popular show. At age 57, he became the oldest winner in the history of the series. At the time of the episode’s airing, he was teaching physics at Gorham High School in Gorham, Maine.

Robert retired from teaching in 2009, but while he was teaching, he held a number of other jobs in addition to his responsibilities in the classroom. He worked as the first mate on a research boat for the Smithsonian Institution in Canada. He also worked as an entomologist for the USDA. In addition, he acted as a skunk relocater. And he served as the President, Vice President, and Chief Negotiator for his local Teachers’ Union. Robert also nurtured various personal interests, including journal writing, storytelling, photography, bone collecting, archeology, and camping.

After Survivor, this remarkable teacher wrote a book, and he later opened a luxury camping company called Maine Forest Yurts. The resort welcomes school groups, active military and veterans, and non-profit groups, like the Special Olympics, to stay in yurts free of charge. He also created a Survivor-based charity event called the Durham Warriors Survival Challenge to financially support the enterprise.

Robert was born February 25, 1951. Robert earned his Bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Maine, Orono, and his Master’s degree in Education from the University of Southern Maine.

To read more about this remarkable educator, see this link at the CBS shor Survivor.

Arkansas educator, public servant, and politician John M. Lewellen

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John M. Lewellen is a science teacher who also served his community as a public servant and as a member of the Arkansas State Legislature.

Many fine educators also make a name for themselves in politics. One of these is John M. Lewellen, a science teacher who also served his community as a public servant and as a member of the Arkansas State Legislature.

John was born in Forest City, St. Francis County, Arkansas, on Sept. 16, 1930. As a youngster, he attended Dansby Elementary School and Lincoln High School in his home town. After his high school graduation, John served a four-year stint in the US Air Force, and is recognized as a Korean War Veteran.

Once he earned his honorable discharge, John enrolled at AM&N, the Agricultural Mining and Normal College located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was the first member of his family to go to college. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1958. Once he earned his degree, John moved to the Altheimer and Hermitage areas, where he accepted a position as a high school teacher. Later he served the school as its principal. “I think his proudest moment was he took five of the outstanding seniors to our alma mater, AM&N, and introduced them to the president and helped them get scholarships,” remembered John’s wife, Wilhelmina Lewellen.

Later, John relocated with his wife and children to Little Rock, Arkansas. There he worked within the state government. He served in positions as a probation officer, a state rehabilitation counselor, and a contractor officer for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His career there spanned 30 years.

In his later life, John decided to pursue a career in public service. He was elected to the Little Rock City Board in 1991, the Pulaski County Quorum Court in 1996, and the Pulaski County Justice of the Peace for District 6. In 1999, John was elected to the Arkansas State House of Representatives, where he served until 2004. He represented the 34th District on the Democratic ticket. During the six years he served in the State House, John co-founded the Democratic Black Caucus, chaired the Children and Youth subcommittee, and worked for growth of businesses owned by minorities and women.

This former educator passed away from a lengthy illness in Little Rock Nov. 25, 2017. He was 87 years old. His remains were interred at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to read his obituary.

Illinois educator Mark Peterson: Superb football coach and teacher

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Mark Peterson of chesterton, Illinois, has earned a reputation as a superb football coach. He’s also a terrific science and physical education teacher.

Many excellent educators also distinguish themselves as athletic coaches. One of these is Mark Peterson of Chesterton, Illinois. Mark is a science and physical education teacher who has earned a reputation as a superb football coach.

Mark asserts that the responsibility of an athletic coach is to inspire the team and make sure the players perform well. “I’m positive about all of our opportunities and being able to succeed in those as the season progresses,” Mark declares. “As a coach, seeing the team succeed is what I want. Everyone wants to win, but I, being the coach, am gonna see to it that we do,” he says.

Mark’s career as a football coach is great, but he is egually impressive as an educator. For the past eight years he has taught at Chesterton High School, a public high school in the Greater Chicago area. Currently he teaches Freshman Biology and Environment Science (2011 – present). Previous to his tenure at Chesterton, he taught physical education at Portage High School (2007 – 2011). Before accepting his position at Portage, he worked at Bishop Noll Institute for three years (2004 – 2007). The school is located in Hammond, Indiana. There he taught health courses and filled the position of Directory of Admissions.

This Chalkboard Champion earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1989 from Iowa Wesleyan College. The college is located in Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa. He earned his Master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Valparaiso University in 1993. Valparaiso is a private co-educational Lutheran university located in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana.

Read more about Chesterton HIgh School at this link from ValpoLife.

Virginia science teacher Aline Black Hicks: She launched an important Civil Rights case

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Virginia science teacher Aline Black Hicks launched a important Civil Rights case.

Often times teachers are at the forefront of movements that benefit entire groups of people in our society. One of these teachers was educator Aline Black Hicks, a high school science teacher who launched an important civil rights court case about equal pay.

Aline was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 23, 1906. As a young girl, she attended Booker T. Washington High School in her home town. After her graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. The school is known today as Virginia State University. Aline earned her Master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1935.

The neophyte educator inaugurated her career as a teacher when she accepted a position at her alma mater, Booker T. Washington, in 1924. She taught science and chemistry. As an African American, she earned only two-thirds the salary earned by a white teacher doing the same job. Although it was later determined to be a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, this was a common practice in that time.

In 1939, Aline filed a lawsuit against the Norfolk School Board, asking that they base teachers’ salaries on experience and education rather than race. She had the backing of the Norfolk Teachers Association, the Virginia State Teachers Association, and the NAACP. One of her attorneys was Thurgood Marshall, who later became an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Aline was fired in retaliation for her lawsuit. Once she was no longer employed by the school district, her case was dismissed. However, her lawyers took the case forward with another local teacher, Melvin O. Alston. Eventually the case went all the way to tour nation’s highest court, where the issue was eventually decided in favor of the African American plaintiffs.

In 1941, the Norfolk School board rehired Aline to teach at the school where she had formerly worked. From 1970 to 1973, she worked at Jacox Junior High School as an Instructional Development Specialist until she retired in 1973.

In 2008, Aline was named a Notable African Americans in Virginia History by the Library of Virginia. In 1971, she garnered the Norfolk “Backbone Award” by the Education Association for her contribution to financial, educational and social equality.

This chalkboard champion passed away in Norfolk on August 22, 1974. To read more about her, consult this article in Encyclopedia Virginia.