Educator, politician, and veteran DeWayne Bunch survived a tour of duty in Iraq, but not a lunchroom brawl at his school. Photo credit: Ballotpedia.

As Memorial Day approaches, let’s take a moment to remember educator, politician, and veteran DeWayne Bunch, the Chalkboard Champion that survived the Iraq War, but not a lunchroom brawl.

For 17 years, DeWayne Bunch was a beloved teacher of mathematics and science at Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky. DeWayne was also a member of the Kentucky National Guard for 23 years, and had served in the Kentucky Army National Guard as a First Sergeant. His service sent him on a tour of duty in Iraq. His valor there earned him a Bronze Star. A multi-talented individual, DeWayne was elected in 2010 to the Kentucky State House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. There he represented the 82nd District. As a legislator, he served on House Committees for Education; Veterans’ Affairs; and Transportation.

Sadly, DeWayne’s story does not have a happy ending. One morning in 2011, a brawl between two students broke out in the school cafeteria. DeWayne was the first of three faculty members who rushed in to quell the fray. Unfortunately, DeWayne took a direct punch meant for another student, was knocked to the floor, and hit his head on the hard surface. A surface described as “like slate.” Suffering from severe head and spinal cord injuries, DeWayne was rushed to the nearest hospital. What followed was a year of extensive rehabilitative therapy, during which time DeWayne resigned his position in the Kentucky House of Representatives. His wife, Regina Bunch, a special education teacher at Whitely County Middle School, was elected to fill his vacated position.

Sadly, DeWayne died as a result of his injuries just over a year later, on July 11, 2012. He was only 49 years old. Our country lost a true hero and Chalkboard Champion that day.

DeWayne was born on February 22, 1962, in Williamsburg, Kentucky. He graduated from Cumberland College in 1992 with a degree in Education. He earned his Master’s degree from Union College in 1995, in Principal Certification.

To learn more about this Kentucky veteran and educator, see his biography at Vote Smart.

Teacher, American veteran, and politician Hubbard Yetman of New York. (Photo credit: Prominent Men of Staten Island (1893), Internet Archive)

Many fine educators log accomplishments in fields outside of the classroom. One of these was Hubbard Yetman, a school teacher from New York who also achieved success as a local and state politician.

Hubbard was born on August 28, 1847, in Englishtown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. As a young boy, he attended school at Monmouth Hall in Freehold.

Hubbard was only 15 years old when he enlisted in the 14th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry to fight in the Civil War. His unit was part of the Army of the Potomac, and young Hubbard participated in all of the engagements of his unit. First he served on the front lines as a drummer, and then he was appointed an adjutant’s clerk. Although he was once wounded, his injuries were not severe, and he stayed with his unit until the War Between the States was won.

Once the Civil War was over, Hubbard taught public school in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York. His career as an educator there spanned 15 years. Once he left the classroom, he served his town as the Justice of the Peace and sold insurance. In 1888, Hubbard was elected to the New York State Assembly on the Democratic ticket. There he represented New York’s Richmond County. He was re-elected to this position for two additional terms. While there, the legislature improved local tax laws, increased the county’s police force, and created a pension fund for retired police officers. In 1893, the former teacher was elected School Commissioner, but he declined to serve. However, he did accept an opportunity to serve as the Town Supervisor for Westfield in 1897. When New York City consolidated, the former teacher was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Schools representing Richmond. He held that position until 1902.

This remarkable educator and politician passed away on October 18, 1924. He is interred in Bethel Cemetery in Staten Island. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this article entitled Prominent Men of Staten Island, (1893) published in the Internet Archive.

Minnesota’s Carl Van Dyke: An elementary school teacher who went on to become a lawyer and then a United States Congressman.

Talented teachers often possess the personality traits that make them successful in the political arena. This is certainly the case for Carl Van Dyke, an elementary school teacher who went on to become a lawyer and then a United States Congressman.

Carl was born on February 18, 1881, in Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota. As a youngster, he attended local schools. When he came of age, taught elementary schools in Douglas County from 1899 to 1901. It was in that year that he enlisted in the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry branch of the US Army. There he served as a private in Company B in the Fifteenth Regiment. While in the service, Carl saw action in the Spanish American War, and he was highly respected by his fellow veterans. In fact, in 1918, the former teacher was elected Commander in Chief of the US Spanish War Veterans.

Once he returned from military service, Carl attended St. Paul College of Law, which later came to be known as William Mitchell College of Law. Following his graduation, Carl was admitted to the bar in St. Paul. His leadership abilities evident, the former educator was elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served from 1915 until his sudden death on May 20, 1919, in Washington, DC. He was only 38 years old. After his passing, this gifted teacher, lawyer, and public servant was cremated and his ashes interred in a mausoleum in Forest Cemetery, St. Paul, Minnesota.

To read more about Carl Van dyke, see this entry at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

President William McKinley was a country schoolhouse teacher when he was a young man.

In my research about former residents of the White House who have also been teachers. I have been very surprised to learn just how many of them there are. For example, did you know that President William McKinley was once a teacher?

William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio, and was raised in Poland, Ohio. When he was a youngster, education was very important to William, and he studied diligently at  the school he attended that was run by the Methodist seminary in his hometown.

After William graduated from high school, he briefly attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. However, he had to drop out because of health and financial difficulties. As the seventh child in a large family, he needed to go to work to help support his family. Like two sisters, William decided to go into teaching. He inaugurated his career as an educator as a teacher at a one-room country schoolhouse not far from the home of his parents.

In his classroom, the 17-year-old William taught 50 students of all ages and skill levels. For this work he earned $25 a month. According to the custom of the day, the neophyte educator boarded with the families of his students, although at times he walked several miles to and from school to stay at home with his parents.

William hoped to eventually earn enough money to return to college but, when the Civil War broke out in 1861, he decided to enlist in the army on the Northern side. He fought in the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where he rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Once the war was over, William moved to Canton, Ohio, and returned to the classroom. Later, he shifted careers and went into the practiced of law. Eventually, the former teacher became the governor of Ohio, and then, in 1896, he was elected the 25th President of the United States.

“How priceless is a liberal education!” President McKinley once declared. “Our hope is in the public schools and in the university. Let us fervently pray that they may always be generously supported,” he concluded. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this link provided by the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.