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.