Tag Archives: Social Studies Teachers

Teacher Angela McLean served as Montana Lieutenant Governor

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Former high school History and Government teacher Angela McLean also served as the Lieutenant Governor of the state of Montana.

Many talented educators also achieve success in the political arena. One of these is Angela McLean, a high school history and government teacher who became the Lieutenant Governor of the state of Montana. Angela was the first classroom teacher and only the second woman to serve in this position in Montana history.

Angela was born on August 19, 1970, In Twin Bridges, Montana. After she graduated from Twin Bridges High School, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana Western. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Montana Missoula. Angela was the first person in her family to graduate from college.

As a beginning teacher, Angela taught at Montana’s Arlee High School from 1994 to 1997. She taught at Anaconda High School from 1997 until she was appointed Lieutenant Governor on February 17, 2014. She held the position until 2016. At the time of her appointment, Angela was the chairwoman of the Montana Board of Regents, a position she held from 2012 to 2014. She also served on the Montana Board of Public Education and as an adjunct professor at Montana Tech of the University of Montana. After she left office, Angela served in the position of director of American Indian and minority achievement in the office of the state commissioner of higher education.

This remarkable educator credits her former teachers for her adult successes. “As a high schooler waiting tables at the Blue Anchor Cafe, it would have been hard for me to imagine one day becoming Lieutenant Governor – but great teachers and the support of my friends, my community, and my family have made today possible for me,” she said on the day she was appointed. These teachers “made me believe the sky was the limit,” she continued. “I think, even at times when the challenges I felt were so overwhelming that I might not have believed it, they made me see it. So I hope that somewhere along the line I made a difference in the lives of my students the way the teachers in my life made a difference.”

To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this link at Milken Educator Awards.com.

Teacher Cara Lougheed named Michigan State’s 2019 Teacher of the Year

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Stoney Creek High School Language Arts teacher Cara Lougheed named Michigan State’s 2019 Teacher of the Year.

I enjoy sharing stories about educators that have earned accolades for their dedication and hard work in the classroom. One of these is Cara Lougheed, a high school Language Arts and Social Studies teacher from Michigan. She has been named her state’s 2019 Teacher of the Year.

Cara has taught in Rochester Community School District for the past 21 years. She inaugurated her career at Rochester High School in 1998, and then transferred to Stoney Creek High School when it opened in the Fall of 2001. She has taught Advanced Placement and remedial courses for students in the ninth through the twelfth grades.

“The most rewarding thing is getting through to kids, building those relationships, and helping kids see their potential when they don’t see it in themselves,” declared Cara. “Especially in my last 10 years, I have paid a lot more attention to young girls – helping them see that they can have an opinion,” she continued.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Cara has served on committees to design curriculum, improve school climate, and increase attendance. Over the past decade, she has mentored six student teachers from four different universities. She has also served as a building representative for her local teachers’ union and she has served as a delegate for the National Education Association.

Cara is also working on a myriad of other education-related projects. Currently, Cara is serving as a student intern and mentor liaison to Oakland University (OU). She is working collaboratively with the Michigan Program Network (MiPN) and TeachingWorks to improve and strengthen the teacher education program. In addition, Cara is an advisory member of OU’s Vision 20/20 committee, which solicits the input of classroom teachers in making improvements to teacher education.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see the story at this link: Bridge Magazine.

Edney Apulu of American Samoa named 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year

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Educator Edney Apulu of American Samoa, who has been named 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year.

I love to share stories about outstanding educators who have earned accolades for their work. One of these is Edney Apulu, a high school social studies teacher in American Samoa. He has been named 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year.

This is the second year in a row that a teacher from Tafuna has been named Territorial Teacher of the Year. Last year’s winner was math teacher Jordanna Maga.

As a young man, Edney attended Tafuna High School, where he graduated in 2004. Once he graduated, he enrolled in American Samoa Community College, where he earned his Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. He continued his education at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in both Social Studies and History. In addition, he earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Once he completed his education, Edney returned to his home island. There he accepted a position as a social studies teacher at his alma mater, Tafuna High School. He has taught there for the past 11 years. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Edney serves as the Head of the Social Studies Department and as an official with the American Samoa High School Athletics Association. He also serves as the Chair for the Lumana’i Chapter of the National Honor Society, and he is the faculty advisor of both the History Club and the Junior Statesman of America.

To read more about this amazing educator, view this online article about him published by the American Samoa Department of Education.

Washington teacher Evin Shinn addresses social justice

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Evin Shinn, who teaches 11th grade US History and Language Arts at Cleveland High School in Seattle, Washington, works with his students to address issues of social justice.

Throughout America, educators who are still conducting classes are struggling with how to address issues of social justice with their students. One such educator is Evin Shinn, who teaches 11th grade US History and Language Arts at Cleveland High School in Seattle, Washington.

Evin is one of only three African American teachers at his school, even though 90% of the student body is students of color, and 20% is African American. Because he is Black, Evin feels compelled to address the current protests and issues of social justice with his students, despite the difficulty of broaching the subject. “It’s hard because as a teacher, you’re not a therapist, you’re not a social worker, you’re not a doctor or a nurse—but those are all roles we take on when you become a teacher,” Evin remarked in an interview with Education Week (June 1, 2020). “Particularly as a Black educator, it’s so important to show up for students in moments like this.”

When protests erupted throughout the country this week in response to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, Evin sent text messages to his students to tell them he wasn’t assigning any work this week. Instead, he told his students they should do something to combat racism. He suggested they write a letter to elected officials, make a protest sign, or write a poem that reflected on inequities and the protests.

Next the compassionate teacher sent a text message to each one of his African American students individually to ask them if they were OK and if there was anything he could do for them. “I was very open,” Evin said. He told the students, “I’m feeling definitely sad, and I’m feeling hopeless and angry, and I feel rage,” he revealed. He asked them, “How are you doing? How are you feeling?” The students who responded confessed they felt like this week has been “one big emotional roller coaster.” One student said they were avoiding social media because there’s “a lot going on, and it’s really sad.” In addition to reaching out to the kids, Evin held a virtual class meeting on Wednesday to give his students additional opportunities to talk and process their emotions.

Evin is just one of many educators who is working diligently with their students as they try to cope with current events in meaningful and constructive ways. He is a true Chalkboard Champion! To read more about him and other educators addressing today’s current events with their students, read the full article at Education Week.

Dane Weaver named Wyoming’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

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High school Social Studies teacher Dane Weaver from Ten Sleep, Wyoming, has been named his state’s 2020 Teacher of the year.

I enjoy sharing stories about exceptional teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Dane Weaver, a high school social studies teacher from Wyoming.

Dane teaches in Ten Sleep High School in the town of Ten Sleep. The school is part of Washakie County School District #2. The honoree has taught there for the past three years. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Dane serves his school as the advisor for the student council, as the Assistant Football Coach, and as a member of the building intervention team.

Prior to relocating to Ten Sleep, Dane taught in Jackson, Tennessee. There he taught social studies and served as a teacher coach. In that capacity, he assisted new and struggling teachers through teaching best practices in the classroom. For this work, Dane was recognized as the Teacher of the Year in Jackson Madison County in 2016.

The honored educator asserts that social studies is primarily about building critical thinking skills. “This has to be done through primary sources, digging through the content, looking at what people actually did. So my mode of education is a very active teacher.”

Dane had great models for this manner of teaching. As a youngster, Dane was raised in a household that valued education. His mother was the first woman to teach agriculture in the state of Tennessee. From her, Dane learned an appreciation for inspiring others through education.

Dane earned his Bachelor’s degree from Freed-Hardeman University, a private university located in Henderson, Tennessee. He earned his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Carson Newman College, a private liberal arts university located in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

To read more about Dane, see this link from the Wyoming State Department of Education.