Tag Archives: Secondary Teachers

High school teacher, explorer, cartographer, and writer  Prentice G. Downes

Posted on by

High school teacher, explorer, cartographer, cultural anthropologist, and writer  Prentice G. Downes.

Many fine educators have distinguished themselves in areas outside the field of education. One such individual was high school teacher Prentice G. Downes, known to his friends by the nickname “Spike.” In addition to his career as an educator, Prentice made a name for himself as an explorer, cartographer, cultural anthropologist, and writer.

Prentice was born 1909 in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of an Episcopal clergyman. After his 1928 graduation from Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, Prentice enrolled at Harvard University. Once he was ready to begin his career as a teacher, he accepted a position at Belmont Hill School, a prestigious New England prep school for boys located in Belmont, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.

Prentice was well-known for hurrying back to class in unkempt condition each fall. Between 1936 and 1947, the native of Concord, Massachusetts, made several summer-long expeditions into the sprawling uncharted wilderness of subarctic Canada. Working on a shoestring budget, Prentice would round up a canoe, gear, food, and a local traveling associate. Then he would set out for the great unknown. He was notorious for cutting trips close to the wire, rushing back to Boston bearded, tanned, and garbed in threadbare bush clothes just in time for the beginning of school.

This intrepid teacher traveled by canoe to explore subarctic areas in the Great Barren Lands and learn about the lifestyles of the Native American tribes. During his travels, Prentice kept extensive journals recording a disappearing people and a landscape unknown to all but the Canadian natives at that time. He recorded not only daily events, but also the stories and traditions of the peoples he encountered, particularly people of the Cree and Dene tribes.

In 1939, Prentice traveled from the Brabant Lake area to the Cochrane River, starting at the town of Brochet on Reindeer Lake. Without the aid of maps, the intrepid teacher relied completely on local legend to find his way to the Thlewiaza River and his final destination, the Hudson Bay outpost on Nueltin Lake. Based on this trip, Prentice wrote the travelogue Sleeping Island: The Story of One Man’s Travels in the Great Barren Lands of the Canadian North. First published in 1943, this classic adventure story received a stellar review from the New York Times for its engaging descriptions of the expedition across a rugged landscape of lakes and rivers in northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and present-day Nunavut. Besides the polished and captivating writing style, Sleeping Island stands out because it documented ways of life that no longer exist.

In his later years, Prentice delivered lectures about his travels for Harvard’s Institute of Geographical Exploration. Additionally, he was commissioned by the US government to map portions of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He also became a member of the prestigious Royal Geographical society.

This chalkboard champion passed away in 1959 at the young age of 50.

Kellie May named Utah’s 2019 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

Salt Lake City teacher Kellie May named Utah’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations are in order for Utah educator Kellie May of Salt Lake City. She has just been named the 2019 Utah Teacher of the Year!

Kellie was employed at West High School in the Salt Lake City School District. There she was involved with the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program. The program helps students in under-represented populations prepare for college and succeed once they get there. AVID programs have been established in all 50 states and many countries abroad.

This chalkboard champion has earned the praise of many of her colleagues. “She has a knack for working with students and really getting them to see and believe in their own potential,” said Salt Lake City School District Superintendent Lexi Cunningham. “She was instrumental in getting kids to graduate.”

In addition to her seven years at West High, Kellie has also taught at Bryant Middle School, Lincoln Elementary (now called Liberty), and Northwest Middle School. Currently she is an Associate Instructor at the University of Utah, where she trains new teachers.

A lifelong learner, Kellie declares she has dedicated her whole career to public education. Kellie says she loves teaching, and works hard to share that passion with others. In addition, Kellie admits teaching can be challenging, but she asserts it can also be the most rewarding profession.

Kellie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education at the University of Utah in 1995. She earned a Master’s in Teaching and Learning in 2000, and a second Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2011, also from the University of Utah.

A check for $10,000 was presented to the honored educator. Next, she will meet with Teachers of the Year from all over the country at a national conference. These educators will also meet with the president in Washington, DC, and attend space camp in Alabama next summer.

To read more about Kellie, read this story in the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Connecticut’s David Bosso just inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame

Posted on by

David Bosso, a high school social studies teacher from Berlin, Connecticut, was recently inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

It’s always gratifying when an outstanding educator receives national recognition for their work in the classroom. One such educator is Dr. David Bosso, a high school social studies teacher from Berlin, Connecticut. He was one of just five educators nationwide who were inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame last month.

David earned his Bachelor’s degree at Eastern Connecticut State University in 1997 and his Master’s degree at the University of Hartford in 2004. He completed the requirements for his Ph.D. at the American International College in 2014.

David inaugurated his career as a professional educator in 1997, when he accepted a position as a junior high school history and reading teacher at Holy Cross School. The next year he transferred to his alma mater, Berlin High School, where he still teaches today. In all, his career has spanned 21 years.

“Good teachers are driven by a sense of moral purpose, and they have a keen appreciation for the difference they can make in students’ lives,” asserts David. “They know that many times, it is paying attention to the little things that will pay important relational dividends,” he continues. “And this can mean the world to some students,” he concludes.

For his work in the classroom, David has earned many accolades in addition to this newest honor. In 2012 He was selected the Connecticut State Teacher of the Year, and he was also named the Social Studies Secondary Teacher of the Year by the National Council for the Social Studies. The Lowell Milken Center designated him an Unsung Heroes Fellow in 2014. In 2017 David garnered the Addazio Award by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies.

To read more about this chalkboard champion, see the article entitled Berlin Teacher to be Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame published online by the Connecticut Education Association.

Biloxi Junior High teachers create Avenue of Literature

Posted on by

You’ve got to love the teachers at Biloxi Junior High School in Biloxi, Mississippi. They spent their summer vacation creating an Avenue of Literature for their students by painting the lockers in the hallway to look like the spines of books.

“They’re so much cleaner and bright, and they’re beautiful,” asserts teacher Jamie Parker. Teacher Becky Howard agrees. “I think the kids are really going to enjoy it. When they come back and see this, they’re going to be like, ‘Wow, this is really neat,'” she says.

The project was inaugurated the preceding Fall when two of the teachers at the school decided they wanted to transform the old, dull lockers that lined the eighth grade English hallway. The 189 lockers had been sealed shut and left unused for more than 15 years. “We thought, well, wow, we can really make this hallway look good,” commented teacher Elizabeth Williams. To decorate the lockers, the teachers selected titles they believed would appeal to all reading levels, interests, and genres.

The project was funded by a $600 grant through Biloxi First, public donations, and personal contributions.

NY high school teacher and politician Ernest Greenwood

Posted on by
Ernest Greenwood

High school teacher and politician Ernest Greenwood of New York

Throughout American history, there are many examples of fine educators who went on to successful careers in politics. One of these is Ernest Greenwood, a teacher and principal who also served in the US House of Representatives.

Ernest was born November 25, 1884, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, English. As a young boy, he attended public schools in Halifax, and as a young man he attended the Evening Technical Institute and College. From 1905 to 1906 Ernest was employed at an  engineering firm in Sheffield, and from 1907 to 1910 he was employed at an engineering firm in Halifax.

Ernest left his position in Halifax he immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized citizen. He secured employment with the General Electric Company in Schenectady. He worked there until 1914, when he decided to change careers and become an educator. To earn his degree, Ernest first attended City College of New York and then Columbia University.

But in 1914, World War I was in full swing. To contribute to the war effort, Ernest became a member of the committee on Census and Inventory of Military Resources. In addition, the new teacher inaugurated his career in Schenectady public schools, where he taught from 1914 to 1916. When he moved to islip, Suffolk County, New York, where he taught at Islip High School from 1916 to 1920. From 1920 to 1922, Ernest served as the supervisor of the Federal Board of Vocational Education. In addition, he was the Associate Headmaster for the Dwight School for Boys. From 1922 to 1946, he worked at the New York Preparatory School for Adults, the last 19 as the Headmaster.

During World War II, Ernest served on Islip’s Rationing Board, and in addition he was the Chairman of the Planning Commission for the Board of Education in Bay Shore, New York. He was the Board’s treasurer from 1947 to 1950. He was a Freemason, and a member of the Rotary Club.

In 1950, Ernest inaugurated his career as a politician. He was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent New York’s First District in the 82nd Congress. He served in the US House of Representatives from 1951 to 1953.

Ernest retired from politics in 1954. Sadly, the former educator and politician passed away in Bay Shore on June 15, 1955. He was 70 years old. He is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Bay Shore.