Terry Marzell, Sharon Edwards, and Other Writers Appear at Local Authors Fair in Eastvale, California

On Saturday, January 11, I had the opportunity to participate in the Local Authors Fair held at the Eastvale Community Library in Eastvale, California. Eleven published authors, including myself, were on hand to discuss our recently-published works and to sign copies that were available for purchase. This is the third such fair that I have been involved in, and I have to say, I find these opportunities exhilarating!

One of the best aspects of participating in a local authors fair is meeting and networking with other authors. On Saturday, I met an absolutely fascinating author by the name of Sharon Edwards, author of the fiction work Pioneer Boulevard. Her book, a collection of short stories set in the Indian community of Los Angeles, was named for Artesia Blvd. in California, a street that is known as Little India. Most of the protagonists are, like the author, women who have migrated to Los Angeles from their native India, but the book is also populated with characters from other countries, including Mexico, El Salvador, Vietnam, Pakistan, and England. In this way, the novel reflects the multi-cultural and poly-lingual flavor of metropolitan Los Angeles.

Set in the context of the recent economic crisis, the sense of an overstretched, underfinanced world pervades the narratives of Edwards' book. One woman must clinch the job that is required for renewal of her work permit; another has to sell her wedding necklace to pay her bills. A third learns about an unplanned pregnancy days after her husband received a layoff notice. "Farcical and somber, wry and tender, these stories draw us into the chaotic, comic world of the pioneer, where habits of consumption and ways of relating—and even of speaking—are constantly in flux," explains Sharon. I personally bought this book, and I can wait to read it! You can find Sharon's book at this link on amazon: Pioneer Boulevard.

Philadelphia Teacher Anna Willess Williams: She Became the Face of "Lady Liberty"

On many occasions a talented educator will gain notoriety for reasons that have nothing to do with the field of education. Such was certainly the case with Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher, who is best known for being the model for the image of  Lady Liberty on the Morgan silver dollar coin.


Anna was born in Philadelphia in 1857. In 1876, when she was just an eighteen-year-old art student, she was asked to pose for engraver George T. Morgan, an acquaintance of a friend of her father, who had been commissioned to produce a new series of coin designs for the U.S. Mint. For his design, Morgan wanted to use the image of an American girl. After rejecting several candidates, Morgan selected Anna as his model because was so impressed with her profile, commenting that it was the most perfect he had seen in the country. He described her as being fair in complexion, “with blue eyes and a Grecian nose,” with hair that was "almost her crowning glory… golden color, abundant, and light of texture," worn in an attractive classical style.


After being promised that her identity would always be kept confidential, the young art student sat for five sessions in November, 1876. By the time the silver dollar bearing her likeness was first struck on March 11, 1878, Anna had begun her career as a teacher. To Anna’s dismay, her identity as the image’s model was revealed shortly after the coin was released, resulting in instant fame. Anna received thousands of letters and visits at both her home and work place, and she was very disturbed by the attention. In her later years, she preferred not to discuss her modelling work with Morgan, dismissing the experience as an "incident of my youth."


Anna refused offers for acting and stage work, and chose to continue in her position as a teacher at the House of Refuge. In 1891, she left her job as the principal at that school to become a teacher of kindergarten philosophy at Girls’ Normal School in Philadelphia. Though she was once engaged to an unknown suitor, Anna never married. She retired from the teaching profession in 1924. She passed away from complications suffered from a bad fall on April 17, 1926, at the age of sixty-eight.

Terry Marzell to Appear at Local Authors Fair

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be one of ten authors appearing at a Local Authors Fair to be held at Eastvale Community Library on Saturday, January 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The public library is located on the campus of Eleanor Roosevelt High School at 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, California. My book, Chalkboard Champions, will be available for sale, and I will be on hand to sign copies. The event is free. Hope to see you there!

Maryland Educator, Civil Rights Activist, and Legislator Verda Freeman Welcome

Many teachers dedicate themselves to social and political causes outside of the classroom, knowing that to improve opportunities for American citizens as a whole specifically helps their students in the classroom. One such teacher was Verda Freeman Welcome, a teacher, politician, civil rights activist, and community activist from the state of Maryland.


Verda was born on March 18, 1807, in Lake Lure, North Carolina.  She was one of fifteen children of farmers John and Docia Freeman. As a young girl, Verda attended North Carolina and Delaware public schools. The young scholar always planned to pursue higher education, but following the death of her mother in 1928, she found herself with limited financial resources to pursue her goal. Undaunted, she worked as a domestic during the day and attended school in the evening until she eventually earned her high school diploma. She once recalled, "I had to make the daily sacrifices needed to keep my dreams intact."


In 1929, Verda moved to Baltimore and to continue her education at Coppin Normal School, where she earned her teaching certificate in 1932. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in History from Morgan State College in 1939, and she completed the requirements for her Master of Arts Degree from New York University in 1943. In her later years, she was awarded honorary doctorates from Howard University, Morgan University, and the University of Maryland.


During her youth, Verda learned first-hand that African Americans were often underpaid, undereducated, and underprivileged. She determined to make a positive impact on the black community as an educator, and so she taught in the Baltimore City Public Schools for eleven years.
      
In 1959, the dedicated teacher was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates to represent the Fourth District. She was the first black woman to achieve that distinction. Verda served as a delegate until 1962, when she was elected to the Maryland State Senate, becoming America's first African American female state senator. She served in the Maryland State Senate until 1982. Between the State House and the State Senate, Verda devoted a total of twenty-five years of service in the legislature. Significant among her accomplishments there was the passage of legislation dealing with such issues as discrimination in public accommodations, equal pay for equal work, the harassment of welfare recipients, illegal employment practices, voter registration, the abolition of capital punishment, and reforms in the state's correctional facilities.
     
On the personal side, Verda married a physician, Dr. Henry C. Welcome, in 1935. The union produced one daughter, whom Verda named Mary Sue Welcome.


For her many important achievements in the area of civil rights, this chalkboard champion was inducted into Maryland's Women's Hall of Fame in 1988. Verda was 83 years old when she passed away on April 22, 1990, in Baltimore.

John Antonetti: An Entertaining Presenter with Strategies for Engaging the Whole Child

All over the country these days teachers are being asked to attend inservices intended to prepare us for the upcoming shift to Common Core. Yesterday I enjoyed a quality presentation about this very them presented by educator John Antonetti. Throughout the entire day, this witty and entertaining speaker kept me on the edge of my seat. In The Learning Cube: Engaging the Whole Child, Every Child, we learned strategies for engaging our learners with sound, research-based instructional strategies firmly rooted in the Common Core Standards. For those of us who are struggling to understand, but eager to successfully meet, the challenges that Common Core presents, this presentation was a godsend.

John Antonetti was a first-class choice for a presenter. Not only is he amusing and engaging, he offers impressive credentials as well. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master’s in Gifted Education, and a second Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. Previously, he was the director of K-12 curriculum in the Sheridan School District in Arkansas. He has also served as the supervisor of gifted programs in the eighteen districts of the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative. For the past eight years, he has been a workshop presenter, developer, and trainer for processes such as classroom walk-throughs, assessment and instructional analysis, coaching, research-based best practices, and systemic writing programs. John is also the author of the book Writing as a Measure and Model of Thinking, and the co-author with Dr. Jim Garver of Focus on Learning: A Process for Personal and Collaborative Reflection.

I found it amazing that this gifted educator has taught at all grade levels, kindergarten through high school. This gives him a unique perspective on reaching students at all grade levels. But he also appears to have an innate ability to reach students at all ability levels as well. Anyone who has an opportunity to attend an inservice with John should jump at the opportunity.

Announcing the new Chalkboard Champions web site!

For the past year, I've enjoyed sharing stories about remarkable teachers, great teacher resources, and classroom tips with all of you. If you have enjoyed this blog, you might want to check out my new web site, www.chalkboardchampions.org.

Over the last several weeks, I've spent many hours learning how to build my own web site, experimenting with the layouts, and organizing the content. You'll find the Chalkboard Champions blog on the home page, a page which offers a collection of posts about best practices and teaching strategies, a page of recommended books about talented teachers and teaching, and an updated "about me" page. For those who wish to buy the book, I've also included the link to amazon.

Feel free to visit the web site, browse, leave a comment, and subscribe! See you there!

More Amazing High School Band Directors From this Year's Tournament of Roses Parade

Yesterday I wrote about some of the marvelous high school bands that participated in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and their dedicated and hard-working band directors. Because there were thirteen of them, I could only cover half of them in the post. But today, as promised, I am paying homage to the remaining half of these very remarkable band directors and their amazing students. Read on for the details!

 

Band director Scott Schwarz led the magnificent one-hundred-eighty-one-member Glendora Tartan Band and Pageantry, which hails from Glendora High School in Glendora, California. Scott is in his twenty-second year at Glendora, the longest tenure of any director in the history of the school. The Pageantry is under the direction of Linda Bergslien. Linda is an alumnus of Glendora High School, and when she was a youngster, she was also a member of  the Tartan Band and Pageantry. This group, ranked one of the top bands in Southern California, can boast a long list of impressive achievements, having earned over one hundred fifty awards and honors over the last four years. This year's participation marks the ninth Rose Parade appearance for the school, and the fiftieth anniversary of their first appearance. What I enjoyed most about this band was the seventeen bagpipers that marched behind the banner carriers. The bagpiper uniforms were designed according to the 42nd Black Watch, the most renowned Scottish Regiment. You're amazing, Plaid Pride!

Next in the parade came band director Christopher Kreke leading the amazing Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds from Carmel, Indiana. Christopher received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and he completed his master’s degree in music technology from Indiana University. Two-hundred-forty-four strong, the Marching Greyhounds have garnered the National Championship two times, the Indiana State Championship four times, and have been selected as a finalist for the Bands of America National Championships for seventeen straight years. The group has also won the Sudler Shield Award for outstanding high school, youth, and international marching bands, an honor given by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The award is one of the highest forms of recognition for marching band programs.The Winter Guard is a two-time WGI World Class Champion and has captured four straight Indiana State Championships. "The students have worked incredibly hard to earn this honor, and I'm looking forward to their performances at Bandfest and in the parade," expressed Christopher. "This is truly a dream come true for our kids and staff!"

Also participating in this year's parade was the Homewood High School Patriot Band from Homewood, Alabama, led by band director Ron Pence. Ron, who has directed the Patriot Band since 1996, earned both his bachelor's and his master's in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Ron garnered the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association in 1991, 2004, and 2005. The music program in Homewood has been recognized as one of the top one hundred in America. Ron's three-hundred-twenty-member marching band has represented the state of Alabama in the Inaugural Parades of both George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, has appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade eight times, two Fiesta Bowl Parades in Phoenix, Arizona, and three Orange Bowl Parades in Miami, Florida. They have even marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. Way to go, Patriots!

 

 

Head Director Tony White led the Los Angeles Unified Schools All-District High School Honor Band, a group comprised of distinguished student musicians from high schools throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District. This group was huge, three-hundred-sixty members! The All-District Band has been a part of the Tournament of Roses Parade every year since 1973, and Tony has directed the group for the past thirteen years. This gifted band director worked as a music educator at John C. Fremont High School for ten years. Although Tony currently works as a professional jazz musician playing the saxophone and clarinet, he is still  heavily involved with music and arts education, serving as the music and entertainment coordinator in the LA Unified School District. "The  challenge for me is maintaining both," he asserts. This chalkboard champion earned his bachelor's degree from University of California, Riverside, his teaching credential at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and his master's degree in educational leadership from Pepperdine University.

 

 

From Louisiana, the St. Augustine High School Marching 100 performed under the direction of Jeffery C. Herbert, Sr. The two hundred Purple Knights (Yes! Two hundred, not one hundred!) of this band attend an all-boys parochial school in New Orleans. This unique band  has created a style that is uniquely their own, both musically and in marching technique. But let's not ignore those snazzy uniforms and helmets! And the group has also played a part in Civil Rights history. In 1967, the Marching 100 broke the color barrier by becoming the first African American marching band to lead Rex during New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras Parade. "The parade used to go through the Quarter at that time," explained Jeffrey. "But you know those guys in '67 paved the way for black bands to be able to march today," he said. The group has also performed at Epcot Center in  Orlando, Florida, the  Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Alabama, the Southern University Bandfest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the ESPN parade for the Super Bowl in 2013.  Well done, Purple Knights!

 

 

Rick Moffit directed the Robert McQueen High School Lancer Band, which hails from Reno, Nevada. One of the most amazing facts about this school is that twenty-four percent of the student body is enrolled in the music program. "All of the kids are excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," expressed Rick. This talented one-hundred-forty-six member group has been named the Nevada State Marching Band Champions an impressive fourteen times. They have also marched in the Inaugural Parade for George W. Bush, participated in the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Field Show twice, and were a part of both the 2012 and 2013 Hollywood Christmas Parades.  According to Newsweek, McQueen is the number one high school in the state of Nevada. Outstanding, Lancers!
 

  

The last high school band to appear was the Colony High School Knights Marching Band from Palmer, Alaska, led by band director Jamin L. Burton. And their presence in the parade marks a first. "They've had bands from all around the world in this parade. They've never had a band from Alaska," remarked Jamin. "It is really awesome." Although this group was comparatively small, only seventy-nine student musicians, they have big spirit. They have been named Alaska State Champions nine times, every year since the band was formed! In addition to the Rose Parade, the talented group performed at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009, the Sugar Bowl in 2010, and the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, in 2006. Awesome, indeed, Knights!

These thirteen music educators, and many, many more, show just how much of an impact great teachers and their programs have upon their students. We surely do owe them a debt of gratitude, not only for yesterday's parade entertainment, but for working so hard and putting in so many hours to create such a memorable experience for our young people. Chalkboard champions, all.