Tag Archives: Secondary Teachers

Margaret Clark Formby: Texas Teacher and Genuine Cowgirl

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Margaret Clark formby

Margaret Clark Formby: Texas teacher and genuine cowgirl.

Not many teachers can describe themselves as genuine cowgirls, but one who can is a Texas English teacher named Margaret Clark Formby. This remarkable educator is best-known for founding the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in her home state of Texas.

Margaret was born in 1929 in Van Horn in Culberson County, Texas, a small town east of El Paso. She was the daughter of Fred and Mabel Clark, local ranchers. As a young woman, Margaret attended Van Horn High School, where she graduated in 1946, the salutatorian of her class. Following her high school graduation, Margaret enrolled at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Speech in 1950. After her college graduation, she accepted her first teaching position at Hereford High School in Hereford, Deaf Smith County, before relocating to a school in Fort Worth, Texas.

As a young woman growing up in a Western environment, Margaret believed it was important to have women recognized for their many contributions to Western culture. To this end, she founded the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Hereford. The museum was originally located in the basement of the local public library, but was later moved to a building in Fort Worth. Margaret also worked as the editor of Sidesaddle, the official magazine of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

In addition to cultural preservation, Margaret labored tirelessly to create better conditions for young people. She was one of two women in Texas who was named to a commission to investigate child pornography. She also served on a committee sponsored by the Texas House Speaker that researched teen pregnancy.

During her lifetime, Margaret earned many accolades for her work. In 1993, the talented educator was the first woman elected to Texas Tech University’s Rodeo Hall of Fame. In 2000, her name was added  to the list of “100 That Made a Difference: History Makers of the High Plains” by the Amarillo Globe News. She also received the Pioneer Woman Award from the American Cowboy Culture Society.

Margaret Formby passed away on April 10, 2003, at the age of 73. She will forever be remembered as a hardworking educator who worked tirelessly to preserve an important part of our Western heritage.

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

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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.

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).