Tag Archives: Secondary Teachers

Clarence Acox, Jr.: Music instructor extraordinaire

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There are many gifted musicians who share their extensive talents with fortunate students in the classroom. One such musician is Clarence Acox, Jr., a high school music teacher and jazz musician who resides in Seattle, Washington.

Clarence was born in October, 1947, in New Orleans. As a youngster, he attended Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School in Treme, Louisiana. After his high school graduation, he enrolled at Southern University, a historically Black university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He graduated in 1971.

After his college commencement, the young graduate accepted a position as a music instructor at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Famed musicians Jimi Hendrix, Ishmael Butler, Quincy Jones, and Ernestine Anderson are all Garfield alumni. Under Clarence’s capable leadership, the high school’s Jazz Ensemble has captured the first place title two times at New York’s Essentially Ellington National Jazz Band Competition and Festival at New York City’s Lincoln Center (2003, 2004). This competition is the nation’s most prestigious high school jazz band competition. Additionally, under his expert tutelage, the Garfield High School Band has traveled to Europe on eleven tours, attending music festivals in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Clarence performs regularly on the jazz nightclub scene in Seattle. He is a member of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, which he co-founded in 1995 with Michael Brockman, a saxophone instructor with the University of Washington. In addition, Clarence is the director of the Jazz Ensemble representing Seattle University.

For his outstanding work in the classroom, Clarence has earned many prestigious awards. In 1991, he was honored as the Musician of the Year by the Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle. He was named Educator of the Year by Down Beat Magazine in 2001, and in 2003 he garnered the Impact Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), an organization best known for presenting the Grammy Awards each year. In 2004, Clarence was named Outstanding Music Educator by the Seattle Music Educators Association, and in 2011, he was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame. Additionally, in May, 2016, Clarence was recognized with an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

To learn more about this remarkable educator and musician, click on JazzJournalists.org or BlackPast.org.

Sue Burns: The math teacher who became integral to the San Francisco Giants

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Sometimes in history talented educators make their mark in arenas other than the classroom. This is the case with Sue Burns, a math teacher who became an integral and beloved part of the San Francisco Giants franchise.

Sue was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 9, 1950. She earned her degree at California State University, East Bay, located in Hayward, California. Following her college graduation, she accepted a position as a math teacher at the Woodside Priory School, a private coeducational Catholic prep school located in Portola, Valley, California. She was employed there from 1983 to 1992.

Sue met and married Harmon Burns, an investor in a financial group that purchased the San Francisco Giants baseball team in 1992. Sadly, Harmon died of heart failure in 2006. Upon his death, Sue became the majority shareholder of the team and assumed the role of senior general partner. The former schoolteacher was extremely popular within the Giants organization. She attended almost every game, and often sat with Nikolai Bonds, the son of Giants outfielder Barry Bonds. In addition, Sue often traveled with the team when they went on the road and to Arizona for spring training.

In July, 2009, Sue discovered she had lung cancer. She succumbed to the disease a week later, on July 19, at the age of 58.  “Sue was a remarkable mother, grandmother, and friend whose loving and nurturing spirit touched everyone in the Giants family,” expressed Giants official Bill Neukom at the time of her passing. “Her unwavering loyalty to her beloved orange and black could be felt throughout the entire organization.”

To read more about this amazing lady, click on The Mercury News.

Teacher William G. Thompson, the first football coach at Carlisle Indian School

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In our nation’s history, there are many examples of outstanding educators who have also served as athletic coaches. One such teacher was William G. Thompson, an educator at Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Not much is known about this early teacher. We do know that he was born in 1866, and that as a young man he attended Yale University.

Following his college graduation, William accepted a position at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, first founded in 1879 by Colonel Richard Henry Pratt, an American US Cavalry officer who served in the Civil War and then the Indian Wars. Pratt brought Native American children taken from their families on the reservation to the Carlisle School for the purpose of assimilating them into mainstream society. At Carlisle, William was hired as a business teacher and as the executive director in charge of discipline. He served in this capacity for 15 years. In 1893, William also became the school’s first head football coach. That was the first year the school’s team was recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) The Carlisle Indians played only three games that season, but the neophyte coach led his boys to a 2-1 record. In the seasons that followed, the Indians consistently faced opposing teams comprised of larger players. They learned to rely on their speed and guile to remain competitive, and the Carlisle’s playbook gave rise to many trick plays and other innovations that are now commonly seen in American football games. For example, the overhand spiral throw and the hand-off fake were both innovations created by Carlisle players. To read more about this amazing team, click on the link Carlisle Indians Football. In addition to football, William Thompson coached baseball, track, and basketball for five years. From 1897 to 1907, William served as the school’s athletic director.

In 1907, William left Carlisle to teach business courses for the boys-only section of Reading High School, a public high school in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was employed there for three years. In 1940, this chalkboard champion passed away at the age of 74.

American-Israeli Jim Boatwright: Teacher, coach, and pro basketball player

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Many accomplished athletes go on to distinguished careers as educators and coaches. This is certainly true of history teacher and basketball coach Jim Boatwright.

Jim was born in Twin Falls, Minidoka County, Idaho, on December 10, 1951. When he was a youngster, his family moved to Rupert, Idaho, where Jim attended Minico High School. While there, Jim lettered in basketball, track, and golf. In basketball, Jim led his school team to back-to-back state championship games (1969, 1970). In addition, Jim’s high school honors include being named a Sunkist All-American, a Top 10 High School Player in America, and a participant in the prestigious Dapper Dan Classic held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This event is now known as the McDonald’s All-American Team. The talented basketball player graduated in 1970, and was later was inducted into the Idaho Basketball Hall of Fame.

After his high school graduation, Jim played on scholarship at Utah State University (USU) in Logan, Utah, where he was the leading scorer during both his junior and senior seasons. In addition, Jim was selected to play in the Pizza Hut East/West All-Star game in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was named Utah State University Athlete of the Year in 1974. Recently, USU voted Jim one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century.

Jim graduated from Utah State University in 1974, having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Upon his graduation, Jim joined the European Professional Basketball League and played eight years for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel. During these years, Jim’s team won seven championship titles, six cup titles, and two European championship titles. Jim was instrumental in the Maccabi team’s win the European championship in 1977. He led Maccabi to a second win in 1980. Jim became an Israeli citizen, and in 1980 was named a member of the Israeli Olympic Basketball team for the Olympic Games held in Moscow.

In 1982, Jim retired from professional basketball and returned to the US with his former wife, Chris, and their four young children. In 1988, the former professional athlete began teaching and coaching in Star Valley, Wyoming, leading his team to a state championship. For his efforts, Jim was named Wyoming’s Coach of the Year. Jim later returned to his alma mater, Utah State, where he coached for three years with Head Coach Kohn Smith.

After a few years, Jim relocated to Arizona to teach and coach. There he met his second wife, Jennifer Magrane Boatwright. Jim and Jennifer taught and coached in several Arizona towns and also in California, but he returned to the Gem State ten years ago when he accepted a position as a social science teacher and assistant basketball coach at Wood River High School in Hailey, Blaine County, Idaho. In all, Jim’s career as an educator spanned 23 years.

Jim passed away on February 11, 2013, after suffering for a brief time from an aggressive cancer of the liver. He was 61. To learn more about this chalkboard champion see HJNews.com.

Benjamin Abbot: Teacher of Influential Politicians

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It is fascinating to learn about prominent and influential teachers throughout American history. This post is about Benjamin Abbot, an educator from Massachusetts who was the teacher for many influential eminent politicians and great thinkers in our nation’s past.

Benjamin Abbot was born on September 17, 1762, in Andover, Essex County, Massachussets. The son of John Abbot, Benjamin’s ancestors had settled in Andover since the earliest days of that town’s existence. In 1872, Benjamin enrolled in Philips Exeter Academy, a prestigious private institution founded in 1781 by prominent New England banker and businessman John Philips. Following his graduation from Philips, Benjamin enrolled in Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned his undergraduate degree there in 1788. In 1811, Benjamin earned a doctorate-level law degree from Dartmouth College located in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Benjamin accepted his first position as a teacher when he went to work at his alma mater, Philips Academy. There he taught Latin, Greek, and mathematics. Among his students were political figures Daniel Webster, Edward Everett, George Bancroft, and Lewis Cass, and educators Jared Sparks and Francis Bowen. Later, Benjamin served as the school’s second headmaster. When Benjamin retired in 1838, Daniel Webster honored his former teacher with a tribute.

Benjamin Abbot passed away on October 25, 1849, in Exeter. He was 87 years old. In 1815, Benjamin was elected to the American Antiquarian Society, an academic society that maintains a national research library of American history and culture. To learn more about this organization, click on the link American Antiquarian Society.