While recognizing our nation’s veterans, here is Shane Larkin, US Army vet and high school social studies teacher from Columbus, Georgia. Photo credit: Ledger-Enquirer

Our nation is indeed fortunate that many individuals who serve our students in the classroom have also served in the US military. One of these is Shane Larkin, a high school social studies teacher in Columbus, Georgia.

Before he became an educator, Shane served ten years as a staff sergeant in the US Army. While in the military, he participated in firefights with combat units deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq.

It was while he was stationed in Kosovo that Shane accepted his first position as a teacher. There he taught the English language to Serbian students. “I loved almost everything about being an infantry squad leader,” he once told the local newspaper, the Ledger-Enquirer, “but I felt completely comfortable and inspired while teaching those students for several hours a week,” he said. “It was truly rewarding for me to be part of making a safe zone for those kids who were not safe to even go into neighboring towns,” he continued. “It was at that point I realized the true meaning and power of education.”

Currently, Shane teaches history and world studies at Early College Academy in Columbus, Georgia. The school partners with Columbus State University to expose students to resources, rigor, and the intensity of college-level academics.

For his work in the classroom, Shane has earned many accolades. In 2017, he was named the Muscogee County Schools Teacher of the Year. In 2018, the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation (MEEF) selected him their Teacher of the Year. To read more about him, see this article published in Education Week Teacher.

US Air Force veteran Matthew Bundy, a high school Government teacher from Mountain Home, Idaho, has earned national honors from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Photo Credit: Mountain Home News.

It’s a privilege to share stories about dedicated educators who have also served in our nation’s military. One of these is US Air Force veteran Matthew Bundy, a high school Government teacher from Mountain Home, Idaho. He’s just earned national honors from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Michael was raised in Ogden, Utah. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Weber State University. He completed his Master’s Degree at the University of Utah. He completed the requirements for his teacher certification at Boise State University. In addition, he earned a Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Idaho.

Matthew teaches American Government to seniors at Mountain Home High School in Mountain Home, Idaho. His career as an educator spanned 16 years. The honored educator is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served 20 years in the US Air Force. While in the military, he worked as a combat aviator.

Michael’s service in the military gave the Chalkboard Hero valuable insight when it comes to teaching his students about the attacks on 9/11, the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes, and the importance of their involvement in civic and community activities.

For his work in the classroom, Matthew has been named a 2020 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award at the high school level. Matthew was sponsored by VFW Post 5423 in Mountain Home. The exemplary teacher was chosen because of his passion and innovation in developing patriotic lessons, and for going above and beyond to develop civic responsibility and activism in his students.

The award program is co-sponsored by former VFW National Commander John Smart and retired VFW Quartermaster General Larry Maher. The program was established in 1999 to recognize three exceptional teachers from around the country for their commitment to promoting patriotism and civic responsibility in their students. Each recipient receives a $1,000 award for professional development and $1,000 for their school and two commemorative plaques, one for their school and one to keep.

To read more about this amazing educator, see this article published about him in the Mountain Home News.

Bill Ruth

It has been 19 years since our nation was rocked to the core by the September 11th terrorist attacks. Like most teachers who went to school that day, I distinctly remember how difficult it was to ease the fears and distress of my students while trying to keep my own alarm and emotions under control. And now, so many years later, when I reflect upon the events of that day, I wonder if any educators lost their lives in the attacks.

In conducting some research, I discovered the story of one heroic educator: William (Bill) R. Ruth, a retired middle school social studies teacher from Maryland. After his career as an educator, Bill was working at the Pentagon as a Chief Warrant Officer for the US Army. He was in his office there when the building was struck by American Airlines Flight 77. He was one of 30 individuals on the ground who lost their lives in the tragedy. On the day of his death, Bill Ruth was 57 years old.

Bill had a long record of service to his country. He served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, where he was a helicopter pilot. He would later tell friends of the missions he flew, evacuating the wounded and the dead. As a Maryland National Guard reservist, Bill also served in the Persian Gulf War. When the conflict erupted, Bill was pulled out of the classroom and sent to the Middle East.

After his tour of duty in Vietnam, Bill earned his Master’s degree and became a social studies teacher, a career that spanned three decades. Right before he retired, Bill worked at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus, Maryland.

“Mr. Ruth was my seventh grade social studies and history teacher at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus, Maryland, way back in 1995,” remembers educator Barbara Boyd Overmier. “He was the best teacher, and he made learning fun. He would bring in pictures and slideshows of helicopters he flew, and always had a fantastic story to tell. I remember being more interested in going to his class than any other. I remember him as a kind man, wanting to make sure we achieved our potential and enjoyed doing it.”

Bill Ruth is remembered fondly by many, including scores of former students. And he has left a lasting legacy to his profession. “We lost not only a great man that day,” expresses Overmier, “but our country lost a hero. He was such an inspiration to me that I recently completed my education to become a teacher so that I could touch lives the way that he did,” she discloses. “We’ll miss you Mr. Ruth, you were the best of the best!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

To read more about this Chalkboard champion and American hero, follow this link.