Tag Archives: Social Studies Teachers

FL teacher logs successes as a race car driver, internet content provider

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Former Social Studies teacher Joe Raiti raced cars professionally and now produces internet content. Photo credit: Paradise News

There are many examples of successful classroom teachers who have left the classroom to pursue other careers. One of these is Joe Raiti, a former Florida teacher who earned acclaim as a race car driver and internet content producer.

Joe earned his Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Central Florida in 1998. He earned his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of South Florida in 2008.

After graduating from college, Joe taught Social Studies in Pisco County Schools in New Port Richey, Florida. He taught there from 2001 to 2018. He instructed courses in Advanced Placement (AP) History, AP Psychology, and World History. The popular educator also started a Car Club on the campus where he offered students instruction all about cars, whether it be a car’s history or how to change a tire or the engine oil.

In all, Joe’s career as an educator spanned 19 years. During these years, he earned several accolades. In 2008, he was named the In 2015, he earned the

Once he left the classroom, Joe began to pursue a career in car racing. His passion for cars dates back to when he was just a youngster, he has confessed. As a kid, he attended races with his father and honed his skills for fixing cars working at his dad’s mechanics shop. In his senior year of college, Joe decided to liquidate his belongings, including his 1985 Corvette, and enroll in a racing school in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After he completed his training, he launched his career as a professional race car driver, a profession he pursued for three years. He raced at some of the most famous raceways in the country, including Daytona International Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Road America, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, and Mosport International Raceway. In these races Joe clocked a First Place finish and a Second Place finish at the SCCA Regional Championship, and a Second Place finish at Daytona International Speedway.

These days, Joe produces video content covering automotive topics, where he has produced more than 3,000 videos and boasts 1.7 million subscribers. He calls this creative effort “Raiti’s Rides.” You can check out Joe’s website at raitisrides.com or his YouTube content at Raiti’s Rides.

Skye Morgan named Mississippi’s 20223 State Teacher of the Year

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High school Social Studies teacher Skye Morgan has been named Mississippi’s 2023 State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Petal High School

Congratulations are due to Skye Morgan, an exemplary Social Studies teacher who hails from Petal, Mississippi. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Each year, the honor is awarded to a teacher who inspires students, demonstrates leadership both in and out of the classroom, and is active in the community.

Currently, Skye teaches juniors and seniors at Petal High School, which just happens to be her high school alma mater. There she instructs courses in US History, Advanced Placement US History, and Dual-Credit World History. In addition, she serves as the co-advisor for her school’s Quiz Bowl Team and she co-sponsors the Political Science Club. Also, she co-coaches the school’s Disc Golf Team.

In her classroom, Skye says she focuses on civic-minded education because that is extremely important to the continuation of our democratic republic. She says a democracy is dependent on citizens who are knowledgeable and thoughtful enough to participate in it.

Skye earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in scenic design, lighting, and sound, and her Master’s degree in Teaching, both from the University of Southern Mississippi. She inaugurated her career as an educator in 2010.

Once she graduated, she earned her degree in Theater with the goal of becoming a set-designer on Broadway. A one-year stint as a long-term substitute changed all that. She discovered a passion for working with young people, and determined to make teaching her permanent career.

The Mississippi Teacher of the Year program recognizes exemplary teachers in the state. As the honoree, Skye will share her expertise throughout the state through presentations, professional development, and activities for the improvement of education. In addition, she received a $5,000 stipend and represented Mississippi in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

Elem teacher Trinity Whittington named 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year finalist

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Elementary school teacher Trinity Whittington has been n Amed one of five finalists for the title of 2023 Floria Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Florida Department of Education

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Trinity Whittington, an elementary school teacher from Gilchrist County, Florida. She has been named one of five finalists for the title of 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year.

Trinity teaches English Language Arts and Social Studies to fourth graders at Bell Elementary School in the Gilchrist County School District. She has worked in this position for the past five years.

Trinity has obviously earned the respect of her colleagues. “Mrs. Whittington’s classroom is a place of magic, where children are hooked from the moment they enter until the moment they leave,” declares Bell Elementary Principal Suzanne Matte. “The relationships she develops with students, parents, and colleagues are true and binding.”

This exceptional educator focuses on creating engaging lessons that affect her students in positive ways. One of the ways she emphasizes community service is by leading school-wide efforts to provide blankets to the local nursing home. She has also established a library swap program to promote literacy.

It was her mother’s influence that caused her to pursue a career in education, says Trinity. “She has been a teacher for my entire life. I have seen firsthand the impact that she has been able to make on the children that she has been blessed to teach,” Trinity explains. “Mama has a true passion for teaching and working to better the lives of our children. I wanted to make that same impact on the students in our community,” she continued.

Trinity earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2017 from Saint Leo University, a private university located in St. Leo, Florida. She graduated summa cum laude.

Five finalists were chosen for 2023 Teacher of the Year from nearly 185,000 public school teachers nominated throughout the state. The finalists were selected on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service.

Celebrating the birthday of first teacher in space Christa McAuliffe

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New Hampshire Social Studies teacher Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, was lost when the space shuttle Challenger exploded seconds after lift-off on Jan. 28, 1986. Photo credit: NASA.

Today we celebrate the birthdate of Chalkboard Champion Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to go into space. I remember well the day she climbed aboard the space shuttle Challenger, with excitement and a huge smile, when it was launched on Jan. 28, 1986. In only my fifth year of teaching, I was so proud that a fellow educator had been selected to represent the teaching profession as the first civilian in space. I was more than a little star-struck by the professionalism, intelligence, and infectious enthusiasm of the chosen candidate, who was selected from among 11,000 other highly-qualified applicants.

Christa was born on Sept. 2, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from Framingham State College in 1970, and her Master’s degree from Bowie State University in 1978. At the time of her space flight, she was working as a Social Studies teacher at Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire.

During her mission in space, Christa planned to write a journal of her experiences as an astronaut from the perspective that even an ordinary citizen can take center stage in the making of history. She was to have been the perfect example of that. In addition, the intrepid educator was scheduled to perform lessons and simple scientific experiments aboard the space shuttle which would be viewed by students in classrooms all over America.

Tragically, Christa was one of seven astronauts killed when the Challenger exploded on that fateful day, just 73 seconds after lift-off. The journal she never got to finish was replaced by A Journal for Christa: Christa McAuliffe, Teacher in Space, written by her grief-stricken mother, Grace George Corrigan. This book is a tender tribute to an extraordinary teacher. A Journal for Christa can be ordered from amazon. I have also included a chapter about Christa McAuliffe in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and their Deeds of Valor, also available on amazon.

Illinois social studies teacher Samantha Stearns earns honors

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Illinois social studies teacher Samantha Stearns named a finalist for the Illinois State Teacher of the Year Award.  Photo credit: Wednesday Journal

I always enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. Today, the spotlight falls on Samantha Stearns, a social studies teacher from Illinois. She is the recipient of the 2023 Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year and one of 13 finalists for the Illinois State Teacher of the Year Award.

Currently, Samantha teaches social studies and serves as the Department Chair at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest, Illinois. Samantha also advises her school’s Mock Trial team and the History by Hollywood Club, a group where students are encouraged to consider how film can have an impact on historical narratives. She has worked at Roosevelt for 11 years. Previously, she taught for two years in Plainfield, Illinois.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Samantha is a member of the Illinois State Board of Education and University of Illinois’s I3, Inclusive, Inquiry-Based Social Studies program. The types of projects her eighth-graders work on reflect the goals of this program. “My students really enjoyed our election unit,” Samantha reveals. “We focused on building background knowledge on voter suppression and how limited access to the ballot has been a challenge in the US historically,” she explains. “To then see how people like Stacey Abrams worked to increase voter turnout in Georgia was the perfect culmination of our study and really let students connect the past to the present,” she says. “I think it let students see that past historical injustices still impact Americans today, but also how we can work to correct our course,” she concludes.

Samantha’s selection as a Regional Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition the stellar teacher has earned. In 2022, she represented Illinois in the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History National History Teacher of the Year program. In addition, she has been a guest writer for the American Historical Association’s Perspectives on History. In this capacity, she serves as an advocate for improved social studies education and increased collaboration between K-16 social studies educators.

Samantha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and History in 2010 from University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. She earned her Master’s degree in History in 2019 from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.

To learn more about Samantha Stearns, click on this link to an article published by Wednesday Journal.