Tag Archives: Social Studies Teachers

NY Social Studies teacher Andrew Beiter inducted into NTHF

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Andrew Beiter, a social studies teacher from Springville, New York, has been inducted into the 2020 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Photo credit: www.academyfor humanrights.org

 

I enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Andrew Beiter, a social studies teacher from Springville, New York. Andrew is one of five educators who have been inducted into the 2020 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF).

Andrew teaches eighth grade American history at Springville Middle School in Springville, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. Previously, Andrew taught in the Panama School District and at St. Bonaventure School in West Seneca. His career as an educator has spanned 25 years.

This amazing educator has garnered the respect of his colleagues, his students, and their parents. “I’m truly grateful for the impact Andrew has had on our school and students,” says Shanda DuClon, Principal of Springville Middle School. “He has successfully led several school-wide lessons where tolerance is the topic. He is an advocate for our students, and through his support, Andrew has created a safe environment where students can truly be themselves without judgment,” the principal continued. Fellow educator Megan Felt agrees. “His impact reaches beyond the boundaries of his classroom to include educators and students around the world,” Megan asserts. “His colleagues and students speak of his love and passion for teaching.”

In addition to his duties in the classroom, Andrew is also the Director of the Summer Institute for Human Rights of Buffalo, a Regional Education Coordinator for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is the Board President for the Educators’ Institute for Human Rights, an organization designed to provide education to teachers about the Holocaust and human rights in former conflict zones, including Rwanda, Bosnia, and Cambodia. He is also a Teacher Fellow for the Lowell Milken Center and a consultant for the Speak Truth to Power program at the Robert F. Kennedy Center. And as if all that were not enough, he is active in New York State United Teachers and the National Council for the Social Studies.

Andrew earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Philosophy from Michigan State University in 1987 and his Master’s in Education from State University of New York, Fredonia in 1998.

Well done, Andrew.

Cherie Dandurand, Iowa social studies teacher, succumbs to Covid

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Cherie Dandurand, a beloved social studies teacher in Moville, Iowa, has succumbed to Covid-19. (Photo credit: Sioux City Journal)

Sadly, we report that Cherie Dandurand, a beloved social studies teacher in Moville, Iowa, has succumbed to Covid-19. She passed away on Jan. 6, 2021, at the age of 53.

Cherie was born Oct. 1, 1967. As a youngster, she attended Prairie High School School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she graduated in 1986. There she was a member of the National Honor Society, and she excelled as an athlete. In fact, as a senior, she was recognized as the All-Around Female Athlete of the Year.

After her high school graduation, Cherie enrolled at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where earned her Bachelor’s degree from Loras College in 1990. There she excelled in both volleyball and basketball. In 2010, Cherie earned her Master’s degree from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska.

In 1991, Cherie inaugurated her teaching career as a middle school history teacher at Woodbury Central in Moville, Iowa. Her career there spanned 30 years. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she was also a Head Coach and Assistant Coach for volleyball and basketball, and she served as the president of the Woodbury Central Education Association. “She was part of our safety committee. She was part of our leadership team. She was also a member of her school’s Character Counts Committee and part of our School Improvement Team.

According to Woodbury Central School District Superintendent Douglas Glackin, the fallen educator, “Loved working with kids, was able to reach out, especially struggling kids and get them more involved in school.”

Cherie was involved in many community activities as well. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and she was active in Boy Scouts as the Chairwoman of the Troop Committee. In her free time, this amazing educator was an avid reader.

To read more about Cherie, see her obituary published in The Gazette.

Rene Plasencia: Educator and member of Florida House of Reps

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Former US Government teacher Rene Plasencia is currently serving in the Florida State House of Representatives.

Many fine educators have also carved out a successful career in politics. One of these is Rene Plasencia, a high school teacher who is currently serving as a representative in the Florida House of Representatives.

Rene was born on January 8, 1973, in Orlando Florida. His mother was Puerto Rican and his father was Cuban. As a youngster, Rene attended Dr. Phillips High School. After his high school graduation, he enrolled at the University of Central Florida on a rack and field scholarship. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1996.

Once he earned his degree, Rene accepted a position as a teacher at Colonial High School, where he taught US Government for 15 years.  “I taught in a diverse community filled with hard working families, many of them newly arrived to our Country,” recalls Rene. While teaching at Colonial, the dedicated educator also served as the coach for the track and cross country teams. In 2011 and 2012, his Boys Cross Country teams won back-to-back state championships. These were the first and only titles that the school has earned in any sport. For his work as a coach, Rene was named Florida’s 2011 Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Iin 2015, Rene was elected on the Republican ticket to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served the 49th District from 2014 to 2016. Once that term was completed, he was elected to represent Florida’s 50th District, a position he has held since 2016.

To learn more about Rene Plasencia, see the article about him by Ruth Guerra and published by the GOP.

 

Recognizing Georgia teacher and US veteran Shane Larkin

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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.

 

Teacher and veteran Matthew Bundy earns 2020 VFW honors

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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.