Hail to Carter Godwin Woodson: The Founder of 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 black coal miner's children, offering them a 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, which included duties as a trainer of teachers, there? All these biographical details and more about this fascinating historical figure can be found in my book Chalkboard Champions.

How to be an Excellent Teacher

Every once in a while I come across a video about great teaching that I feel hits the nail on the head. Here is one I came across the other day. Before you watch it, you might want to think about what qualities you think a great teacher should possess. Then compare your list with the one presented here. Enjoy!

Terry Marzell's book Chalkboard Champions mentioned on Asian American Journal website

I am always gratified when I discover that others are supportive of my efforts to honor remarkable teachers, so I was excited to learn that my first book, Chalkboard Champions, was recently mentioned on the website for Asian American Journal. A chapter of my book explores the life and work of Japanese-America educator Mary Tsukamoto, an elementary school teacher from northern California who was incarcerated in a Japanese-American internment camp during WWII. Her life story highlights a shameful episode in American history, but the good that comes out of her family's misfortune truly inspires the reader.

You can check out the mention on the website at this link: Asian American Journal. Enjoy!

A thought about education from Civil Rights Movement leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. George Fischbeck: Dynamic Science Teacher and Television Weatherman

There are many fine examples of talented educators making a mark in fields outside of education. A notable example of this is George Richard Fischbeck, a former science teacher who became a well-known television weatherman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in Los Angeles, California.

George was born on July 22, 1922, in the small town of Wallington, New Jersey, and raised in Farmingdale, New Jersey. The oldest of four children, he was the son of George and Johanna (Mohlenhoff) Fischbeck. His father was a farmer and his mother was a teacher.

Always an avid student of nature, George first became interested in meteorology when he was stationed in Hawaii with the US Army during World War II and the Air National Guard during the Korean War. Once he was discharged, George attended the University of New Mexico, where he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in education. Then he worked in Albuquerque as a teacher in a career that spanned 23 years.

His daughter, Nancy Fischbeck of Woodland Hills, once described her father as a whirlwind of energy, and he focused it on teaching others about how nature works. "That's what my childhood was, and why it was so exciting," she  said. "We’d do experiments up on the roof, collect meteor fragments on the mesas in New Mexico, or make clouds in a bottle. He was such a great science teacher."

After he retired from teaching, George launched his career as a television personality as the host of a children's science program in Albuquerque. Known popularly throughout his 20 years on TV as "Dr. George," he was well-known for his non-scripted and humorous broadcasts, and for his bow ties, thick-rimmed glasses, and mustache. "That was the classroom. He was the old professor and that was the look,” Nancy remembered. "The old professor with the mustache, glasses, and pointer."

Dr. Fischebeck could see the obvious similarities between his two careers. "I come from a family of teachers, and I’ll tell you one thing about teaching, if you can get a kid's attention you can teach them anything,” he once said during an interview. "You've got to do whatever you can to make sure they're listening to you and not doing anything else. And then you can teach them." It was a strategy that also worked with his television audiences.

For his service to youth, George garnered a Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1979.  He was honored again in 2003 when he was given the Los Angeles Area Governor's Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He was given an honorary doctorate in humanities from Albuquerque University.

George retired from television in 1997. Once he retired, he became a guest speaker in Los Angeles schools, served as a volunteer with the Los Angeles Zoo, and worked with the Los Angeles Police Department Volunteer Surveillance Team. This amazing educator and television personality passed away from natural causes on March 25, 2015, at the age of 92.

Veteran educator Lisa Lee talks about "Getting at the Heart of Teaching"

Here's an inspirational You Tube video created by educator Lisa Lee, a veteran teacher with over 26 years of experience in the classroom. Her topic is Getting at the Heart of Teaching. I'm sure it will inspire you as you face the students in your own classroom tomorrow morning. Enjoy!

Carol Jago: A Truly Remarkable Educator

Here is a truly remarkable chalkboard champion: Carol Ann Jago.

Carol was born in the Chicago area to Italian parents, John Crosetto and Mary Giacchino. Her father was from Turin and her mother came from Sicily. After her high school graduation, Carol was educated at st. Louis University and the University of California, Sana Barbara, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English in 1973. She earned her master's degree in education from the University of Southern California the following year.  

After her college graduation, Carol worked for 32 years as a junior high school and high school English teacher in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. She has also served as a content advisor for the Advanced Placement Literature test and also on the English Advisory Committee. Formerly, she was the president of the National Council of Teachers of English and an editor for the journal for the California Association of Teachers of English. She has worked as the director of UCLA's California Reading and Literature Project. She's also been engaged as an educational consultant and a motivational speaker, and she has published numerous books. 

Carol Jago is truly an extraordinary educator.