Tag Archives: Veterans

Middle school teacher Monica Galloway garners 2024 VFW honor

Posted on by

It is always my pleasure to shine a spotlight on an outstanding classroom teacher who has also served in the United States Armed Forces. Today, I spotlight Monica Galloway, a middle school teacher in Laurel, Maryland. She has garnered a 2024 Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Award from the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars).

Middle school teacher Monica Galloway, a US Army veteran, has garnered a 2024 Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Photo credit: VFW

Monica, a United States Army veteran, works as a sixth grade math teacher at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in Laurel, Maryland. Her consideration for the award was sponsored by the J. Paul Duke Jr. Memorial VFW Post 9376 in Clinton, Maryland. Monica was selected for her dedication to increasing participation in her county’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC). Additionally, she has been lauded for establishing a program known as Immigrant Experiences, and instructional program to help promote diversity and build stronger, culturally responsive, supportive classrooms.

Each year, the VFW selects one elementary, one middle school, and one high school teacher to receive the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher award. The honor recognizes outstanding teachers for their exceptional commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students through promoting civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism in the classroom. The award was established in 1999 and named after former VFW National Commander John Smart and retired VFW Quartermaster General Larry Maher. Monica will be presented with a check for $1,000 which she can use for professional development and $1,000 for her school during the 125th VFW National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, July 27-Aug. 1, 2024.

To read more, click on this link to VFW website.

Dr. Marvin Nottingham: Teacher, coach, administrator, WW II hero

Posted on by

Educator and administrator Dr. Marvin Nottingham was also a World War II veteran who saw battle at Iwo Jima. Photo Credit:

Many outstanding classroom teachers have served their country admirably in the military . One of these is Dr. Marvin Nottingham, a teacher and administrator originally from Wyoming who was also a World War II veteran.

Marvin was born on August 16, 1925, in Sheridan, Wyoming, and raised in Big Horn. As a young man, he worked on a cattle ranch in his native state. After his high school graduation, he served in the US military in the 133rd CB Battalion (this unit is often called the SeaBees). He fought valiantly on Iwo Jima, where he was a D8 bulldozer operator, pulling boats and troops out of the water surrounding the island. For his actions in that battle, Marvin earned a Bronze Star for his valor. In fact, until his passing, he was one of the last survivors of that fated battle.

Once he was discharged from the service, Marvin earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. He earned his Master’s degree from San Diego University and his PhD in Education from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1970.

Marvin inaugurated his career in education when he accepted a position as a teacher of chemistry, physics, and math. He also coached basketball. He spent 11 years in the classroom. Then he was promoted to the position of Vice Principle at Coronado High School in San Diego. He then went on to serve as a principal at both Hemet High School and Palm Springs High School. He also served as an Area Superintendent for the Norwalk—La Mirada school District. He worked his way up to a position as a professor of educational administration at USC, and then served as Department Chair at the University of Idaho at Moscow. His career as an educator spanned 40 years.

After his retirement, Marvin continued to contribute to the educational community. He served as the President of the Educational Foundation and as the President of the Retired Teachers Association. He also devoted nearly 20 years to the Valley Restart Homeless Shelter.

During his lifetime, Marvin authored three books. His first two books, Once a Cowboy and Victor and Connections to Pacific Spiny Lobster: Tales of Land and Sea, were memoirs, and his third book, Principles for Principals, described his educational pedagogy.

Marvin Nottingham passed away on March 26, 2024, in Hemet, California. He was 98 years old. He was interred in Riverside National Cemetery, a burial place reserved for veterans, in Riverside, California.

To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to an article about him published in the Cowboy State Daily in 2023.

Idaho’s Kelly Carey honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars

Posted on by

Elementary school teacher Kelly Garey of Idaho has been honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with a 2023 Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. Photo credit: Idaho Press

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional teacher. Today, I shine a light on Kelly Garey, an elementary school teacher from Caldwell, Idaho. She has been honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) with a 2023 Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award.

Kelly teaches second grade at Van Buren Elementary School in Caldwell. In her classroom, she has created a community called Tribes, developing curriculum which emphasizes the use of inclusion activities. Her class concludes each day with a sharing community circle for students to reflect on their day. She also spearheads drug prevention programs and expands her students’ knowledge about patriotic and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) topics. She also helps teach her students about the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance and good citizenship. She has been a teacher for 33 years.

Kelly was nominated for the National Citizenship Education Teacher Award by members of VFW Post 3886 in Caldwell. She earned her honor for her dedication to fostering patriotism, her passion for serving her country and local community, and for her efforts to organize field trips, activities, and services to help her students learn about and recognize the military service of America’s veterans.

This Chalkboard Champion is a retired Navy veteran, with a career in the Navy Reserves that spanned more than 30 years. As a Chief Petty Officer, Kelly worked for the Navy Operations Support Center in Boise. She was also an active member on the Navy Funeral Honor Guard. With this extensive experience, she leads her students and members of her community to understand why veterans choose to serve, the rich history of our nation’s flag, and the genuine spirit of freedom.  She retired from the military in June, 2022.

 

Teacher Samuel Youngs: Revolutionary War veteran

Posted on by

History abounds with school teachers who have earned fame outside of the classroom. Such is the case with Samuel Youngs, an American school teacher who was a close friend of famous American author Washington Irving. In fact, it has been speculated that Samuel served as the inspiration for the character of Ichabod Crane in Irving’s story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

Samuel Youngs was born December 4, 1760. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a lieutenant in the 4th New York Infantry Regiment led by Baron Frederick von Weissenfels. Throughout the war, Samuel served the fledgling American army as a guide over the roads and trails in the county around his home. He was one of a dozen native soldiers who were known as The Westchester Guides. His father’s farmhouse, located near the intersection of Bradhurst Avenue and Grasslands Road in Eastview, was the scene of a British raid during the Revolution.

After the Revolutionary War was won, Samuel served as a Federalist member of the New York State Assembly from 1796-1797, 1809, and 1810. Additionally, Samuel served as a Surrogate of Westchester County for terms of one or more years in 1800, 1807, 1810, 1811, and 1819.

The intrepid school teacher and veteran passed away on September 12, 7051406_1175741520611839. He was originally buried in the yard of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow in New York. There he was honored with other citizens of Tarrytown who fought during the Revolutionary War with a monument, pictured at left. The inscription at the bottom of the monument reads: “This monument is erected by Major General Aaron Ward, 9 division, N.Y.S.M. in testimony of his high appreciation of the services of a brave officer and a true patriot.”

In 1851, Samuel’s remains were relocated to the Dale Cemetery in Ossining, New York. He was the first person to be buried in that cemetery.

Retired teacher Winona Mullis served in US Navy during WWII

Posted on by

On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, I am reminded that many educators are also veterans. For example, retired teacher Winona Mullis served her country as a WAVE in the US Navy during World War II. Photo credit: USNI News

During those days when our nation is honoring our veterans—days like today, when we observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day—I am reminded that many classroom teachers have also served our country in the military. One of these is Winona Mullins, a 100-year-old retired teacher who is also a veteran of World War II.

Winona grew up in Seward, Pennsylvania, but she was a freshman in college at Indiana State Teachers College when Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7,1941. The unprovoked attack resulted in the US entry in World War II. When the young woman returned home for summer break, typists and stenographers were in great demand, and Winona was one among many who answered the call.

In 1943, the college co-ed joined the US Navy as a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). There she trained as a codebreaker at IBM headquarters in New York City. For the next 27 months, Winona served her country as a Specialist I 3rd Class.

Although her job was on the mainland, Winona had to go through basic Navy training just like any sailor. She learned to march at the WAVES basic training site at Hunter College in New York City. She studied ship terminology, and toured a variety of different ships to learn how each one functioned.

After her training at IBM’s Madison Avenue headquarters was completed, Winona shipped out to a base in Bremerton, Washington, located on Puget Sound. She remembers seeing ships with battle damage, some with holes due to torpedoes, she says. And she also remembers the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the base to address the soldiers.

At the end of WWII, Winona secured the base and closed all the offices. That was in March, 1946. She returned to college in Ohio to complete her formal education, and she became a teacher. She taught for many years in the Detroit area, and then relocated to Greenwich, Connecticut, about an hour north from where she first boarded the train to start her naval career, to teach. In all, her career as an educator spanned 39 years before her retirement.

Even in retirement, Winona has been an active member of her community, volunteering to teach English as a second language, tutoring from her home and at the Greenwich Senior Center and at a local church. In addition, she has worked many blood drives, served as a member of the Representative Town Meeting for a decade, and tabulated absentee ballots for her local registrar of voters.

What an amazing woman! To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to USNI News.