Jodee Blanco's Powerful Memoir Describes Anguished Life of a Bullied Kid

In recent years we have witnessed many well-publicized demonstrations of the disastrous effects that bullying can wreak upon on our students. As  caring educators, we have dedicated ourselves to protecting our students from bullying as much as we possibly can, and to educating the bullies in an attempt to extinguish this destructive behavior. Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Woman’s Inspirational Story by Jodee Blanco gives us one more reason to renew our efforts. In her book, she painstakingly describes her personal experiences as the kid who was bullied all throughout her school years.

This powerful memoir describes how one child was mentally and physically abused by her classmates. It offers a bold picture of what it means to be an outcast, how even the most loving parents can get it all wrong, why schools are often unable to prevent the behavior, and how bullying has been misunderstood and mishandled by the mental health community. Her story shines a spotlight on the harsh realities and long-term consequences of bullying, and how all of us can make a difference in the lives of kids.

Within 48 hours of its release, Blanco’s memoir hit the New York Times Best-Seller List. The volume is now required reading and summer reading in hundreds of middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities, and has become part of the curriculum in many schools.

The book was published in 2003 by Adams Media Corporation in Avon, Massachusetts. It can easily be found on amazon.com at the following link: Please Stop Laughing At Me.

What Makes a Great Teacher? Chris Lehmann Shares His Thoughts

When I established this blog, my intention was to recognize and celebrate great teachers. There are many loyal readers of this blog who are, I am sure, interested in the stories about these talented and gifted educators. But I am aware that, more than anything, classroom teachers want to know how they themselves can improve their practice, and so today I would like to share with you an article that I stumbled across on the internet yesterday. The article was written by Chris Lehmann, the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. He wrote this article a few years ago when he was a teacher at Beacon School, a progressive public high school in Manhattan. Here is Lehmann's answer to the question What makes a great teacher?

What Makes a Great Teacher?

by Chris Lehmann

 

What makes a great teacher? Sort of an important question, right? I’ve seen teachers who worked for hours on their lessons, who were scholars in the field fail miserably, and I’ve seen teachers who, if you give them five minutes before they walked in to glance over their material, they could run a class for an hour on any topic under the sun. In the end, what makes a great teacher? I wish I had a magic eight-ball that allowed me to figure this one out, but it’s something I’ve really given a lot of thought to... and I think what follows are at least some interesting ways to think about the profession. So what makes a great teacher?

1) Passion for teaching. This can manifest itself so many ways. I’m the “jump around the room” kind of teacher, and sure, that comes from a lot of passion, but some of the best teachers I’ve known have had a passion that students had to be quiet to catch onto.

2) Love of kids. You laugh, but it’s true! I’ve seen people come in and talk about teaching and talk about how much they love their subject and know about their subject, but they never mention the kids. Worse, we had an interview once where the teacher clearly knew his stuff, but he basically admitted that his classroom management style was fear and intimidation. Not who I want teaching kids I care about.

3) Love of their subject. Again... pretty important. I spent four years dropping by Mike Thayer’s classroom because to watch him explain physics or calculus was, for me, to understand how you could have a passion for something that was always a mystery for me. Great teachers not only love their subject, but they love to share that joy with students.

4) Understanding of the role of a school in a child’s life. High school is more than the sum of the classes the kids take. It’s a time to grow, explore, try on identities, find joys that might just last a lifetime. Sometimes the best teaching we do happens on basketball courts, in the halls after a class, at a local coffee shop or in a drama studio. The best teachers know that they are teachers for much more than the time they are in the physical classroom.

5) A willingness to change. This one gets overlooked sometimes, I think. I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. We talk about how schools should be transformative for kids, but I think they can be just as transformative for teachers. If you expect kids to be changed by their interaction with you, it’s got to be a two-way street.

6) A work ethic that doesn’t quit. It’s a hard, draining job that will demand all that you can give sometimes. You’ve got to be able to have some balance in your life, but there are very few teachers who can be effective by cramming everything they need to do into the hours allocated by the average teacher’s contract. (And for the record, the overwhelming majority of the teachers I’ve met put in hours well above and beyond the contract.)

7) A willingness to reflect. You’ve got to be able to ask why things went the way they did... both on the good and the bad days. And you have to be able to admit when the reasons it went bad were because of what you did, not what the students did. (Equally important is the understanding that often things go right because of what the kids brought to the table, not because your lesson plan should be bronzed.) Teaching requires a willingness to cast a critical eye on your practice, your pedagogy and your self. And it can be brutal.

8) Organization. My personal Achilles heel, and one of the things I’m always working to improve. My Palm Pilot helped, really. But I hate paperwork and official looking documents, and it kills me. I am amazed at the people like Dale Lally who seem to get his papers handed back before the kids hand them in or seems to be able to put his hands on every unit he’s ever taught within a moment’s notice. Kids know what to expect, they know he’s going to be organized and have a structure to his class... and he’s still creative and spontaneous and interesting. I can only imagine how much better of a teacher I’d be if the structure of everything I did was just a little more organized.

9) Understanding that being a “great teacher” is a constant struggle to always improve. I think I’ve had some moments of great teaching in my career, but I also still see all the holes in my teaching -- sadly, often times mirroring holes in my self -- and I still want to get better... because I think I’ve got a long way to go to be a great teacher every day. And even if I get better at everything I see as weaknesses now, I can only imagine what new challenges will face me on that day.

10) Enough ego to survive the hard days. The tough days will leave you curled up under a desk, convinced that you can’t teach or the world is too hard for these kids or the work is too much or whatever the problem was that day... you have to have enough sense of self to survive those days.

11) Enough humility to remember it’s not about you. It’s about the kids. If your ego rules your classroom, if the class turns into “me vs. them” or if you can’t understand that a sixteen year old might be able to tell you something you don’t know, then don’t teach. Or at least, don’t teach high school.

12) A willingness to work collaboratively. Sure, there are some great teachers who close the door to their classroom and do what they want, but I think you send a strange message to the kids that way sometimes. Teachers are part of a school community, and even where that community can be flawed (and lots of schools are), a great teacher should be willing to work to make the community a better place.

Laura Towne: The Chalkboard Champion Who Taught Emancipated Slaves

American history is full of absolutely amazing chalkboard champions, and one excellent example is Laura Towne. This remarkable teacher was one of the first northern women to venture south in order to work with newly emancipated slaves.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in1825, Laura was raised in Philadelphia, where she moved in socially progressive circles. She was educated as both a homeopathic physician and a schoolteacher. She was also a dedicated abolitionist.

While the Civil War still was raging all about her, Laura travelled to St. Helena Island in Port Royal, South Carolina, where she founded the first school for freed slaves. She named her institution the Penn School. Laura was practical, independent, down-to-earth and strong-willed. She readily entered into the life of Saint Helena Island, where she began her work attending to the medical needs of the freed slaves. In June, 1862, Laura gave up her medical practice, and together with Ellen Murray, her life-long friend and fellow teacher, opened the first school for freed slaves. Nine adults students enrolled in the school, which operated out of the back room of an abandoned plantation house. Unlike most schools established for emancipated slaves, Laura's school offered a rigorous curriculum, which was modeled on the schools of New England.

 

Laura spent forty years running her school and grew to love the life she had established in Port Royal. She and Ellen eventually adopted several African American children and raised them as their own. Upon her death in 1901, Laura bequeathed the Penn School to the Hampton Institute, at which time it began operating as the Penn Normal, Industrial, and Agricultural School.

Native American Loren Brommelyn: The Chalkboard Champion Who is the Tradition Bearer of His Tribe

Many teachers dedicate themselves to preserving the rich traditions of their culture group. One such educator is Loren Me'lash-ne Brommelyn, a "tradition bearer" for the Tolowa tribe. Loren, who is of Tolowa, Karuk, and Wintu descent, has dedicated him life to preserving the traditional songs, ceremonial dances, language, and basketry of his Native American culture.Loren was born in 1956 in the small fishing village of Nelechundun on the Smith River. His tribe, the Tolowa, numbered approximately 2,400 prior to European contact, but dwindled to only 121 people in the Smith River and Crescent Bay region by 1910. As a speaker and teacher of the Tolowa language, he considered the single most knowledgeable individual on the subject. He is also recognized as the largest single maker and contributor of men's and women's dance regalia in the Tolowa community, and he has a reputation throughout the northwestern part of the state as an expert basketmaker.

 

Loren earned his master's degree in linguistices from the University of Oregon. He currently teaches at Tah-Ah-Dun Indian Magnet Charter School in Crescent City in northern California, and formerly taught for many years at Del Norte High School in the same town. He's also a published author, producing educational material about the Tolowa language, and he played an important role in persuading the University of California system to recognize Native American language as part of the entrance requirements for world language. In 2002, Loren was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Education Association.

Chalkboard Champion Mary Jo Codey: The former First Lady of New Jersey

Many times gifted and active educators find themselves immersed in the world of politics. This is certainly the case with Mary Jo Codey, an elementary schoolteacher who is also the former First Lady of New Jersey. Mary Jo served her state during the administration of her husband, Governor Richard Codey, from 2004 to 2006. Governor Codey took office upon the resignation of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey.

Mary Jo was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and was raised in West Orange. After her high school graduation, she enrolled in Caldwell College, where she earned first her bachelor's and then her master's degrees in elementary education. She has also earned certification as a learning disabilities teacher consultant from Seton Hall University.

Once her husband took office, Mary Jo taught part time. Simultaneously she served as the ambassador to the Governor’s Book Club, which encouraged reading and literacy skills among elementary school children. This position gave her an opportunity to visit schools all over the state and read aloud to children. She also worked tirelessly to promote awareness for women's mental health issues, particularly post-partum depression, and breast cancer.

After her husband left office, Mary Jo accepted a teaching position at a private elementary school in West Orange, New Jersey.

Clayton Brough: The Teacher and the Television Weatherman

Very often gifted teachers earn recognition in fields other than education. One such teacher is Robert Clayton Brough, a retired middle school teacher who is also well known as a climatologist and television personality. Known widely as Clayton Brough, he is probably best known for his position as a long-time weatherman of ABC4 in Salt Lake City, Utah, a position he held for twenty-eight years. He also worked on the weather team at CBS2.

Clayton was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 29, 1950. As a youngster, he was a longtime member of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1967 Clayton was selected by his district to report on the status of Scouting in America to President Lyndon Johnson. After his high school graduation, Clayton enrolled in Brigham Young University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1974 and his master's degree in 1975, both in the field of geography.

During the years he worked as an on-air weatherman, Clayton also taught science, geography, and journalism in middle school. His first teaching assignment was at Springville Junior High in 1975 in Springville, Utah, where he worked between 1975 and 1978. Between 1978 and 1984, Clayton took a break from teaching, returning to the profession to teach at Springville in 1984. In 1986,  he transferred to Eisenhower Junior High in Taylorsville, Utah. Clayton has also served as an adjunct instructor of geography at Brigham Young University starting in 1989 and at the University of Utah  beginning in 2005. He has also written scientific articles and doctrinal books for the Mormon Church.

This gifted educator retired from his thirty-one-year career in the teaching profession in 2012.

Chalkboard Champion Joe Colone: The Gifted Athlete Who Became the Consumate Coach

Many acomplished athletes go on to become exceptional educators once they leave their careers in professional sports. One such athlete is Joseph F. Colone, a professional basketball player who once played for the New York Knicks.

Joe Colone was born in Berwick, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 1924. He attended Berwick High School in Berwick, Pennsylvania, where he established a reputation as a gifted athlete. Upon his high school graduation, he enrolled in Bloomsburg State Teachers College, now known as Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he also played basketball. After college graduation, Joe was not drafted into the NBA, but he still managed to make the Knicks' roster for the 1948-1949 season.  At 6 feet 5 inches tall and 210 pounds, Joe played the forward position. He played for only one season, but during that season he appeared in 15 games and averaged 5.5 points.

After his brief career in the NBA, Joe moved to Woodbury, New Jersey, and accepted a teaching position at Woodbury Junior/Senior High School, where he taught from 1954 to 1986. There he served as an assistant coach for both the basketball and the football teams, and the head coach for the golf team. While at Woodbury, Joseph mentored rising basketball star Dave Budd, who later went on to play for Wake Forest University and then for the New York Knicks.

As a teacher and coach, Joe was described as genuinely nice, fun-loving, and family-oriented. Those who knew him said he had a passion for the art of teaching and a knack for motivating all his kids to do well. "Joe meant everything to me," former student Dave Budd said in an interview published in nj.com in 2009. "Without him, I'd never have gotten a scholarship to Wake Forest. Without him, I doubt I'd ever have gotten to the NBA. He gave me direction, helped me with my temper. Joe was a major person in my life and we remained close over all these years. On the court and off the court, Joe helped many young people in Woodbury."

Joseph Colone, chalkboard champion and professional basketball player, passed away on July 1, 2009, at the age of 85.

Norma Elizabeth Boyd: Amazing Educator and Children's Rights Advocate

As is so often the case, many educators distinguish themselves in areas outside the field of education. Norma Elizabeth Boyd is one such teacher. Norma was an educator in public schools in the Washington, DC, area for over thirty years. She was known for creating real-world experiences for her students. One example of this is that she frequently escorted her classes to Congressional hearings to learn about the political process. To help educate her students, one year Norma financed their field trip to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City.

Norma was born in 1888 in Washington, DC, and was educated in public schools there. A graduate of Howard University, this amazing woman was one of sixteen founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first sorority established by African American students.She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1910.

Throughout her life, Norma was active in a variety of political endeavors. In 1934, she raised money to support the Mississippi Health Project, and in 1938, Norma established the Non-Partisan Lobby for Economic and Democratic Rights, an organization which lobbied Congress about issues related to education, voting rights, and public service. In 1939, Norma was named a United Nations observer. She represented the United States on several committees, as well as at an international conference held in Brazil. As a UN observer, Boyd was dedicated to children's rights and supported Principle 10 of the Declaration of Human Rights.
During World War II, Norma chaired two conferences at Howard University to support the war effort. In addition, Norma lobbied the United Nations, government agencies such as the Department of State, and nationally-recognized educational, scientific, and cultural organizations in an effort to focus attention on the need for integration. In 1948, the National Council of Negro Woman selected Norma as their Woman of the Year in the Field of Legislation for her role in establishing and leading the Non-Partisan Council. That same year, Norma retired from teaching.

Norma's dedication to students continued into her later years. In 1959, she established the Women's International Religious Fellowship. This organization, which consisted of women from diverse backgrounds and cultures, helped to draw attention to children's safety and rights.

Norma Elizabeth Boyd, a true chalkboard champion, passed away in Washington, D.C. on January 4, 1985.

 

National Teachers Hall of Fame Plans Memorial for Fallen Teachers

The National Teachers Hall of Fame is currently raising money to pay for the construction of a memorial to fallen educators to be located on the campus of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. The planned monument will be 10' by 10', composed of black granite, and contain a walkway, benches, illumination, and landscaping. The memorial is intended to be a permanent tribute to school personnel who have given their lives while protecting their students. Thus far, the names of fifty teachers are earmarked for inscription in the framed book that will also be part of the memorial. Groundbreaking for the project was  held on June 13, and dedication ceremonies are scheduled for this fall. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the construction of this monument can send their donation to NTHF, 1200 Commercial St., Box 4017, Emporia, Kansas, 66801. To check out the web site for National Teachers Hall of Fame, click on this link: NTHF.

 

Remembering Christa McAuliffe: The First Teacher in Space

Without a doubt, one of the saddest days of my teaching career was the day our nation lost the first educator to go into space, New Hampshire history teacher Christa McAuliffe. Fairly new to the profession, I was so proud that a fellow teacher had been selected as the first civilian in space, and a little star-struck by the professionalism, intelligence, and infectious enthusiasm of the chosen candidate, selected from among 11,000 other highly-qualified applicants.

While on her mission, 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. Additionally, she 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 space shuttle Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986, 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 Grace George Corrigan, Christa's grief-stricken mother. The book is a tender tribute to an extraordinary teacher.

A Journal for Christa can be ordered form amazon. I have also included a chapter about Christa McAuliffe in the book I am currently writing, tentatively entitled Chalkboard Heroes.

Carter Godwin Woodson: The Chalkboard Champion Who Originated Black History Month

Carter Godwin Woodson is often credited with originating annual Black History Month celebrations. He is also recognized as the first African American of slave parents to earn a Ph.D. in history. To be sure, these are noteworthy accomplishments. But there is so much more to this brilliant man's life story than is usually publicized.

Did you know that Carter was required much of his childhood to work on the family farm rather than attend school? As a child he taught himself to read using the Bible and local newspapers. He didn't finish high school until he was 20 years old. Were you aware that he once worked as a coal miner in Fayette County, West Virginia, and then later went back there to teach school to the children of black coal miners, offering them a personal model for using education to get out of the mines? Did you know that Carter taught school in the Philippines, and then became the supervisor of schools there, which included duties as a trainer of teachers?

All these biographical details and more can be found in the book Chalkboard Champions, available on amazon.com and Barnes and Noble's web site.

Chalkboard Champion Sondra Erickson Served in Minnesota State Legislature

Many talented educators have achieved success in fields other than education. One such chalkboard champion is Sondra Erickson, a retired English teacher who was employed at Princeton High School in Princeton, Minnesota. This amazing woman also served as a state legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Sondra was born in 1942, and raised in Taft, North Dakota. She graduated from Hillsboro High School, and then from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, earning her bachelor's degree in English. She attended graduate school at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The talented educator served on the Minnesota Board of Teaching from 1992 to 1997, bringing her "students first" philosophy to the table.

First elected to the state legislature in 1998, Sondra was re-elected in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006, and served until 2008. Sondra carried her interest in educational matters with her into her new position. She worked tirelessly on the committees for education policy and education finance.

Teacher, Coach, and Counselor Herb Banet: The Chalkboard Champion Who Was Also A Football and Basketball Star

When we think of chalkboard champions, let's not forget all of our nation's talented coaches. These dedicated professionals work many long hours with our young people, teaching them the value of self-discipline, healthy competition, fair play, and teamwork, and helping them to choose a healthy, active lifestyle. One such chalkboard champion in Herb Bane, a high school teacher, basketball coach, and guidance counselor from Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

 

Herb was born in 1913 in Fort Wayne. As a high school student, he was a gifted athlete. At 6'2" and 200 pounds, he earned All-City Honors in both football and basketball. After his graduation from Fort Wayne South High School in 1933, he attended Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, where he played collegiate football. While at Manchester, Herb played All-Conference Football and All-State Football in 1934, 1935, and 1936. During the 1937 season, Herb played in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers. He was also a war hero. When World War II broke out, Herb served his country in the U.S. Navy.

 

These experience served him well during his eighteen-year career as a coach at Central High School in Fort Wayne. While coaching there, his team made one trip to the Final Four in 1960, where they were defeated by just one point by East Chicago Washington. Later in Herb's career he served as a guidance counselor at Northrup High School. This talented educator retired in 1979. In recognition of his illustrious career as an athlete, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Herb Banet passed away in 2003 at the age of 89 and is buried at Falls Memorial Gardens in Wabash, Indiana. It is certain that his efforts as a gifted teacher, coach, and counselor will always be well-remembered.

Harriette Arnow: The Spokesperson for Impoverished Appalachian Dwellers

Many times talented teachers earn recognition in fields other than education. One such educator was Harriette Arnow, a public school teacher who also earned fame as an American novelist.

Harriette has been called spokesperson on the people of the southern Appalachian Mountains, although she loved cities and spent important periods of her life in both Cincinnati, Detroit, and Ann Arbor. This remarkable woman was born on July 7, 1908, in Monticello, Kentucky. She was the daughter of two teachers, and decided to pursue a career in teaching for herself. But she also wanted to write. After her high school graduation, Harriette attended Berea College in Kentucky for two years before transferring to the University of Louisville.

Following her college graduation, this talented woman worked for two years as a teacher in rural Pulaski County, and then one year in a more remote area of Appalachia. She then relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she began publishing her short stories. In 1936, Harriette published her first novel, Mountain Path, basing it on her experiences as a teacher.

Harriet lived in Cincinnati from 1934 to 1939, working for the Federal Writer's Project of the WPA, where she met her future husband, Harold B. Arnow, the son of Jewish immigrants. After their marriage, they lived briefly in Pulaski County, close to where Harriette was born. While in Pulaski County, she  continued to work as a public school teacher. In 1944, the couple moved to Detroit, Michigan, accepting housing in a public housing complex. During this time, her 1949 novel, Hunter's Horn, became a best seller and received considerable critical acclaim, finishing close to A Fable written by William Faulkner in that year's voting for the Pulitzer Prize.

In 1950, Harriette and her husband relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan. There she published her most famous work, The Dollmaker, in 1954. The novel was about an impoverished Kentucky family forced by economic necessity to move to Detroit. The plot reflected her own life story, but it also depicted the experiences of many people living in the Appalachians who migrated to the industrialized north to seek a better life.

Harriette Arnow, remarkable teacher and talented author, died in 1986 at the age of 77, at her farm in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Elaine Kontominas Alquist: The Math Teacher Who Became a State Senator

Many chalkboard champions have gone on to serve their communities as politicians. One such individual is Elaine Kontominas Alquist.

Elaine Alquist was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 21, 1944. She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics from MacMurray College, Illinois, in 1966, and her master's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1967. She was employed as a teacher of algebra and trigonometry, and also worked as a school counselor in Chicago public schools. In 1981 she was elected PTA president, and in 1983 she served eight years as first a member and then the president of the Cupertino Union School District Board of Education. During her tenure there, Elaine initiated the district's Disaster Preparedness Plan and helped to develop the district's first Strategic Long Range Plan for the district's 12,000 students.

In 1996 Elaine became the first Greek American woman elected to the California State Legislature. She was re-elected to two consecutive terms in 1998 and 2000. In the legislature, she made made it a priority to fight for improved health care for Californians, co-authoring Healthy Families legislation that extended health coverage for California's uninsured children.

As a former high school math teacher, guidance counselor, school board member, and member of the California Post Secondary Education Commission, Elaine has been  recognized by her peers  in the legislature as an expert on education policy. She has dedicated herself to improving students' math skills, authoring legislation that provided $28 million for staff development of mathematics teachers over the last two fiscal years. Currently, she is working on legislation to improve the funding for California's students and to provide tax incentives for vocational programs and life-long learning through her Graduate Education Opportunity Act legislation.

Elaine Alquist was elected to the California State Senate in November 2004 and is currently serving as State Senator for District 13. She was re-elected to a second term in 2008. Her final term ended in 2012.

Julia Richman: The Chalkboard Champion of Eastern European Immigrants

Julia Richman was a truly remarkable educator of the late 1800s. The daughter of Jewish immigrant parents, Julia declared at a surprisingly early age that she would reject the traditional role of wife and mother and opt for a career in teaching instead. At 15, she enrolled in college courses at New York City's Female Normal College, the precursor to Hunter College, graduating fourth in her class in 1872. She then devoted the next forty years of her life to teaching and improving the lives of the Jewish immigrant students who were entrusted to her care, first as their teacher, later as a principal, and finally as a district superintendent.

During her tenure, Julia Richman pioneered innovative programs for handicapped students, English-language learners, and troubled youth, and she instituted vocational education programs, and much-needed courses in health and hygiene. Many of her innovations are common practice in schools throughout the country today. In addition to her work in the schools, Julia worked indefatigably to better the lives of New York's Eastern European immigrants through the Educational Alliance, the most important Jewish charitable organization located in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

A wonderful book about Julia Richman was recently published by scholar Selma Cantor Berrol; the book is entitled Julia Richman: A Notable Woman. You can find this book on the web site for Barnes and Noble and also on amazon.com. I have also devoted a chapter of my book, Chalkboard Champions, to this most extraordinary educator. My book can be found at amazon.com at the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Chalkboard-Champions.

Maxine Hong Kingston: Chinese American Chalkboard Champion

Many people are familiar with the famous author Maxine Hong Kingston. She wrote The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts, a critically-acclaimed autobiographical account in which Maxine details the conflicting cultural messags she received as the daughter of Chinese immigrants growing up in America in the 1950s. She also wrote China Men, Tripmaster Monkey, The Fifth Book of Peace, and Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace. But did you know that this talented writer is also a teacher?

Maxine earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1962, and then obtained her teaching credential. She taught high school in the city of Hayward for a year, and then moved to Hawaii where she taught in various positions. From 1970 to 1977 she taught at Mid-Pacific Institute, a private boarding school. In 1990, she was invited to joint the faculty of her alma mater, UC Berkeley, as a senior lecturer in the English department. This remarkable educator was honored by President Bill Clinton with a National Humanities Medal in 1997. She has also recieved a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian American Literary Awards (2006), and a Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation (2008).

Martin Badoian: A Mathematical Chalkboard Champion

One absolutely amazing chalkboard champion is Martin Badoian. He is currently a math teacher at Canton High School in Canton, Massachusetts. Born in 1928, Martin attended Brown University, where he graduated in 1952. During his college years, he excelled in athletics, particularly in baseball, basketball, and golf. He was named Outstanding Tri-Captain Athlete at Brown University, and has also garnered awards at the state and regional level for his athletic accomplishments.

Martin's career as a professional educator has spanned 54 years. Currently, he teaches math at Canton High School in Canton, Massachusetts, where he has worked for 45 years. Prior to that, he spent several years as an educator at Milford Prep in Connecticut, and Brockton High School.  At Canton High, Martin founded and currenlty serves as the coach of the Canton High School math team, a group that can boast an outstanding record, capturing at least nineteen New England championships and 14 state championships. This is especially impressive since the school's enrollment is less than 1,000; the school is considerably smaller than many of its competitors. Martin serves as the director of New England Math Meet, the New Englad Mathematics League, and the Greater Boston Mathematics League. Also, he is a co-founder and the current vice-president of the American Regions Mathematiccs League.

Martin has earned a great deal of recognition in the educational field. He was named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year in 1977, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teacher, and he has been named a national Tandy Scholar.

Martin Badoian, a true chalkboard champion.

Chalkboard Champion John Houston Ingle Was Also a Successful Actor

Many chalkboard champions have enjoyed successes in professions in addition to education. One such teacher is John Houston Ingle, who is probably best known as a Hollywood actor who played the part of Edward Quartermain on the TV soap opera General Hospital. He has also appeared in episodes of The Office, The Golden Girls, Night Court, and Boy Meets World. He has also appeared in films such as Death Becomes Her, Robocop 2, The Land Before Time, and Heathers.

This talented educator was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1928. He graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California. After high school, John graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles. He began his career as an educator teaching English and theater in 1955 at  Hollywood High School, and then transferred to Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California in 1964. During his tenure there, his students included Nicolas Cage, Richard Dreyfuss, Barbara Hershey, Swoozie Kurtz, Stefanie Powers, and David Schwimmer. He also taught at UCLA. John retired from the teaching profession in 1985.

John Houston Ingle, chalkboard champion and Hollywood actor, passed away in 2012 at the age of 84.

Terry Lee Marzell Publishes Article on Popular Travel Web Site

As summer draws to a close, it seems a good time to point out that many teachers enjoy visiting other states or other countries during their annual vacation. Whether formally or informally, these "field trips" add dimension and enrichment to our selves as educators, and, more often than not, to our instructional programs. My husband, Hal, and I were fortunate enough to take that long-awaited vacation to Europe this summer. I have written an article about one of the excursions we enjoyed while there. The article has been published on the web site We Said Go Travel. Click on the link below to read

the article I wrote about Isola Bella, located in the lake region of northern Italy. Then explore the other fascinating features of this popular travel web site:

 

Isola Bella: Reflections About How Travel Brings You Home.

Anne Sullivan Macy: The Strategies She Used to Achieve Helen Keller's Miracle

Almost everyone has heard of Anne Sullivan Macy, the remarkable teacher who worked with Helen Keller, an extremely intelligent blind and deaf child from Tuscumbia, Alabama. The relationship between the teacher and the student is explored in The Miracle Worker by William Gibson, an iconic piece of American literature that is frequently taught in public schools. This award-winning play depicts the exact moment at which, due to Anne's expert instructional efforts, Helen was able to grasp the concept of language. This knowledge unlocked a world of isolation for the little girl, allowing her to connect with her fellow human beings, and making it possible for her to earn a university degree at a time when educating women was rare. The scene is sweet. But what strategies, exactly, did the miracle-working teacher use in order to achieve this breakthrough? After extensive reading on the subject, I think I may be able to identify a few of them.

First of all, Anne read every bit of published material available in her day about the education of handicapped students. Knowledge of pedagogy is the first step to effective practice. In addition to this, Anne had the "advantage" of personal experience, as she herself had wrestled with severe vision impairment as a result of trachoma. I'm sure at one time or another, we've all met an educator who is particularly effective at working with students who are facing the same challenges the teacher himself faced as a youngster.

Second, Anne was a keen observer, and she made it a point to watch the normal processes of language acquisition. She then replicated those processes as best she could to fit the particular circumstances and needs of her student. Today, we would probably call this strategy recognizing brain-based learning, and coordinating teaching strategies to fit the way the brain naturally learns. Also, experts generally agree that much of Anne's success in teaching Helen language was attributed to the fact that the teacher always communicated to her student with complete sentences. Concrete nouns such as water or spoon, verbs such was pump or run, or adjectives such as hot or smooth,  may be easy to convey. But abstract ideas such as beauty or truth, or certain parts of speech such as pronouns and some prepositions are much more difficult to impart to an individual unable to see or hear.

Third, Anne was especially adept at incorporating experiential learning into her lesson plans. The effectiveness of "learning by doing" has been well documented, but in a day and age when most instruction consisted of rote memorization without necessarily comprehending, Anne's insistence on teaching through constructed experience was truly innovative. Wading through the creek water, climbing the tree, holding the chick as it hatched from the egg---experiences like these were the staples of Anne's instructional program.

I have included an abbreviated but concise biography of this amazing teacher in my book, Chalkboard Champions, which can also be found at amazon.com at the following link: Chalkboard Champions.

Teacher Bill Holden Walks 2,100 Miles to Help Students with Juvenile Diabetes

Chalkboard champion Bill Holden was born in 1948 in Elgin, Illinois. He earned his degree from Southern Illinois University in 1970. Bill accepted his first position as a teacher in 1973, but soon became interested in working with Native American students. After teaching many years in Illinois, he transferred to Camp Verde, Arizona. At Camp Verde, Bill became aware of the alarming rate of diabetes among his Native American students. Bill retired after 32 years in the classroom, but he was not done dedicating his energy to benefit his students. He decided to focus on helping to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

In 2005, Bill literally walked from Arizona to Chicago, a distance of 2,100 miles, with the goal of raising $250,000 in donations for the American Diabetes Association to fund research to find a cure for juvenile diabetes. Bill started his walk on January 11, 2005, walking through the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. Along the way he battled arthritis in both knees, fatigue, sunburn, windburn, and stifling heat, and once he was nearly hit by a car. It took the dedicated teacher six months to complete the walk, but the effort garnered him national attention.

Bill Holden, a true chalkboard champion.