Christopher Poulos, a Spanish teacher from Redding, Connecticut, is inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) as part of the 2022 class. Photo Credit: NTHF

It is always my pleasure to share stories about exceptional educators who earn recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Christopher Poulos, a Spanish language teacher from Connecticut who has been selected one of five inductees into the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) for 2022.

Following his graduation from Southington High School in Southington, Connecticut, in 1993, Christopher enrolled in the University of Richmond. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Leadership Studies in 1997. He then completed a two-year stint in the Peace Corps, serving in Taiga, Olancho, Honduras. Later, Christopher earned his Master’s degree in Spanish Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. He also completed sixth-year graduate courses at the University of Connecticut.

In addition to his induction into the NTHF, Christopher has earned many accolades. He earned the Excellence in Education Award from the Connecticut State Department of Education (CDOE)  in 2015. He was named a Teacher-Leader in Residence by the CDOE from 2013-2015, and he was named the Hope Street Group National Teacher Fellow from 2013 to 2014. He served as a Fellow of the Aspen Institute from 2012 to 2013, and in 2007 he was named the Connecticut State Teacher of the Year.

Christopher’s career as an educator spans 21 years. Currently, he serves as a Spanish teacher and Instructional Leader for the Humanities at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut.

The honored educator offers this advice to beginning teachers:  “Be kind, have fair expectations, and let students know you care,” he says. “With this mantra in place, your students will come to school engaged and ready to learn, allowing you to share your wisdom and to enable future generations to grow into productive citizens, as they live the lives they dream.”

World languages educator Lillian Greer Bedichek is known for her contribution to awareness of social issues in the American Southwest. Photo Credit: University of Texas.

Skilled classroom teachers are often recognized for advanced accomplishments in their field. One teacher that fits this description is Lillian Greer Bedichek, a world languages teacher who is known for her contribution to awareness of social issues in the American Southwest.

Lillian was born in 1885 in Keachie, Louisiana, the daughter of James and Virginia Greer. In 1893, her family moved to Waco, Texas, because her father had accepted employment as vice president of Baylor University. Upon her high school graduation, Lillian enrolled at Baylor, but later she transferred to the University of Texas. There she majored in Greek and minored in Latin. Lillian earned her Bachelor’s degree from Baylor in 1903. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of Texas in 1926.

In 1910, Lillian married celebrated naturalist Roy Bedichek. Before her marriage, the young educator taught in Waco public schools, at Grayson College, and in Deming, New Mexico. When she became pregnant with her first child, Lillian took a break from the classroom. Before long, two additional children were born to the couple.

In 1917, Lillian returned to the classroom when she accepted a position as a Spanish teacher at Austin High School in Austin, Texas. Eventually, she became the chair of the Spanish Department there. She even published a textbook, Mastering Spanish, in 1945.

Outside of the classroom, Lillian joined a network of educators, folklorists, and writers who were active in raising awareness about social and cultural issues of the American Southwest. She contributed to the movement by writing book reviews and publishing articles about life in the Southwest, including her concerns about sharecropping and land ownership. For her efforts, Lillian was recognized in 1965 as an honorary member of the Texas Institute of Letters. In addition, the University of Texas distributes an annual scholarship named in honor of Lillian and her husband.

Lillian passed away in 1971 at the age of 86. She is buried in Eddy Cemetery in the city of Falls, Texas. To learn more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to Lillian Greer Bedichek.

Retired Spanish teacher Pablo Robertson from Upland, California, will be attending the 2022 Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood today. The tickets, too pricey for Pablo to afford, have been gifted to the beloved educator from his former students. Photo credit: Pablo Robertson

I always enjoy sharing stories about educators who have earned the affection, appreciation, and admiration of their students. One of these is Pablo Robertson, a retired Spanish teacher from Upland, California. His former students love him so much they have banded together to buy him a ticket to the 2022 Super Bowl, just because they know he’s such an ardent Rams fan.

With a single ticket going for between $8,000 to $9,000, Pablo decided attending the game in person was not within the realm of possibility, so he was planning to watch the big game on television from home. But then he learned his students raised more than $10,000 on a GoFundMe page organized by his former student, Laura Salcido. She was Pablo’s student in 2003. Within three days, almost 100 of Pablo’s former students from Spanish classes he taught over his 40-year career at Upland High School contributed.

Pablo was born in New York in 1950, and relocated to Southern California when he just a ten-year-old. As a teenager, he graduated from Upland High School in Upland. By then, he’d already become a die-hard Rams fan. In 1979, Pablo became a teacher at his alma mater. Over the decades, he became well-known throughout the school for his classroom display of Rams memorabilia, which included banners, flags, pictures, and other collectables. But even more importantly, Pablo became a beloved mentor for young people. “He didn’t just teach Spanish,” recalled former student Sarah Wolframm, who graduated in 1993. “He was about teaching life and life lessons and life skills. Spanish was just a perk we learned on the side of the most important lessons,” she continued.

Throughout his career, Pablo’s love for his students was always visible. In addition to his Spanish-language instruction, he spent most of his weekday afternoons taking and developing photographs of his students at pep rallies and sporting events. He gifted the photos to the students or used them to create bulletin boards in his classroom. In addition, since 1994, the beloved educator served as a play-by-play announcer at the school’s athletic events. Even though he retired ten years ago, he still does this today. “I loved teaching Spanish, I love kids, I love photography, I love announcing. Teaching was an ideal career for me,” Pablo declares.

Enjoy the game, Pablo!