Former Nazi youth leader Maria Anne Hirschmann becomes patriotoc American teacher

Sometimes individuals who have the most amazing personal stories become examples of remarkable educators. One such example is Maria Anne Hirschmann, a former Nazi youth leader who became an honored American educator.

Maria Anne Hirschmann, popularly known as Hansi, was born in Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia. As an infant, she was abandoned and raised in a foster home. When Nazi troops invaded her country in 1938, they travelled the countryside testing all the local children, even those who attended the little one-room school that fourteen-year-old Hansi attended. The child was selected to be sent to Prague to be trained as a Nazi youth leader. "For the first time, somebody actually chose me, " Hansi once remembered. "I was the poorest kid in the village, so I could not expect to go on to high school or college. Now I thought I had caught the rainbow." Brainwashed, the youngster pledged her allegiance to Adolph Hitler. When Germany was defeated in WWII, Hansi, by then nineteen, spent several difficult months as a prisoner in a Russian communist labor camp. One day, she simply walked out of the camp, expecting to be shot. The shot was never fired. After spending several weeks exposed to the elements, with only herbs and mushrooms to eat and sleeping under trees or bridges, Hansi found herself in American-occupied West Germany. In 1955, she immigrated to the United States with her husband and two children. In America, Hansi learned a deep appreciation for her adoptive country and came to embrace the American philosophy of freedom. She became a naturalized citizen in 1962.

Settling in California, Hansi enrolled in Pacific Union College, a Seventh-Day Adventist institution located in Napa Valley. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education and psychology. Then this amazing woman became a teacher in Riverside, California, and earned distinction with her work with troubled teens and high school drop-outs. She established a cooking school for boys, instructed remedial subjects, and taught arts and crafts courses.

Hansi also authored several books. Her best-selling volume is her autobiography, Hansi: The Girl who Left the Swastika. The book has sold more than 400,000 copies in English, and has been translated into many other languages, including Russian and Polish. Her life story has also been adapted in the comic Hansi: The Girl who Loved the Swastika, published by Spire Christian Comics.

This chalkboard champion has earned honors from the Daughters of the American Revolution American Medal and the Distinguished Service Citation from the International Christian Endeavor Society.

Chalkboard Champions remembers teacher, science fiction films actor, and author Donald L. Leifert, Jr.

I have often heard it said that there is a certain amount of theatrics involved in teaching. This must be true to some degree, because there are many examples of talented educators who are also successful as actors. One example of this is Donald L. Leifert, Jr., an English and theater instructor who also made a name for himself as a science fiction and horror films actor.

Donald was born on February 27, 1951, in Maryland, the son of Dolores J. and Donald L. Leifert, Sr. During the Viet Nam conflict, Donald served as a soldier in the U.S. Army. Following his stint in the army, he spent two years studying at the Douglas-Webber Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.

Donald worked with indie director Don Dohler in such science fiction and horror film roles as the homicidal ghost in The Galaxy Invader, the contemptible lout Drago in Nightbeast, and the good-for-nothing redneck Frank Custer in The Alien Factor.

When Donald decided to change careers, he accepted a position teaching English and theater arts at the Carver School for the Arts in Baltimore County; English and journalism at Dundalk High and Catonsville High; and English and theater arts at Towson High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Donald was also a published author. He authored his biography, entitle Riggie: A Journey from 5th Street.

This exceptional educator passed away from natural causes at the young age of 59 on October 23, 2010, in Parkland, Maryland. At his passing, this chalkboard champion was remembered fondly by his former students. "He always pushed his students to be their best, because he knew we were capable of it, even when we didn't," remembered former student Jennifer Wallace. "He was kind, funny, and stern when he needed to be," she said. Others agree. "As a senior in high school he would allow me to teach his beginner acting class now and then," commented former student Jessica Wentling. "He gave to me the love of teaching, a passion that I intend to continue pursuing," she concluded.

Inspiration

Leo Elthon: The teacher who became the governor of Iowa

Throughout history, there are many instances where talented teachers have gone on to successful careers in politics. One such example is Leo Elthon, an Iowa educator who became the 32nd governor of his state.

Leo Elthon was born on June 9, 1898, in Fertile, Iowa. As a child, he attended schools in Fertile. He graduated from Fertile High School. Following his graduation in 1917, Leo enrolled first at Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, then at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, and finally at Hamilton College of Commerce in Mason City, Iowa.

After his college graduation, Leo taught manual training and athletics for two years at Clear Lake. In 1920, he accepted a position as principal at Fertile High School. Two years later, he married his sweetheart Synneva Hjelmeland. The couple established a farm and enlarged their family to include six children, two sons and four daughters. During this time, Leo became active in local civic affairs, serving as the president of the local school board and the director of the Fertile Township Farm Bureau.

In 1932, this talented educator was elected to the Iowa Senate on the Republican ticket. He served more than twenty years there until he was elected the lieutenant governor of Iowa in 1953. Upon the unexpected death of Governor William S. Beardsley due to a car accident on November 21, 1954, Leo was sworn in as governor of his state and served in that capacity until January 13, 1955.

During his tenure in politics, this dedicated educator campaigned for additional state school aid, a revision of school reorganization laws, enhanced highway safety, and increased unemployment insurance and workers' compensation.

This chalkboard champion suffered a heart attack in 1964 which left him in poor health. He passed away on April 16, 1967, and is interred at Brush Point Cemetery in Fertile, Iowa.

Cheryl Chow: The Chalkboard Champion of Seattle, Washington

There are many fine examples of dedicated and talented educators who make immense contributions to their local communities. One such educator is Cheryl Mayre Chow of Washington State.

Cheryl was born in Seattle on May 24, 1946, the daughter of Chinese restaurant owners Ping and Ruby Chow. As a young teenager, Cheryl graduated from Franklin High School, and then enrolled at Western Washington University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in teaching. She also earned a master's degree in administrative management from Seattle University.

Upon her graduation from college, the neophyte educator became a physical education teacher. As a teacher, she was known for her toughness, high standards, and tenacious advocacy for children. Eventually she became a principal of first Sharples Junior High (renamed Aki Kurose Junior High) and then Garfield High.

Cheryl's devotion to young people is very evident. Among her many achievements, she served as the assistant director for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, a girls' basketball coach for the city parks and recreation department, and she also directed the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team. "Everything that Cheryl did, she worked to instill leadership among the girls and kind of mentor them for their adult lives," remembers friend Lorena Eng. In addition to this work, Cheryl helped to form an outreach program for teens involved in Asian street gangs.

Cheryl also served as the president of the Seattle School Board and worked at the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. In addition, she served two terms on her local city council.

This chalkboard champion passed away from a central nervous system lymphoma on March 29, 2013, at the age of 66. She is interred at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park in Seattle. She is survived by her partner, Sarah Morningstar, and their daughter, Liliana.

Teacher Tidye Pickett: She was the first African American woman to represent the US in the Olympics

There are many examples throughout American history of talented educators who have also distinguished themselves in the field of sports. One such example is the remarkable Tidye Pickett.

Theodora Anne Pickett was born on November 13, 1914, in Chicago, Illinois. Known by everyone as Tidye, she was the second of two children born to Louis and Sarah Pickett.

As a teenager, Tidye took up running. She quickly established a reputation as a high school track star at her alma mater, Englewood High School in Chicago. She was one of two African American women selected to represent the United States women's track team in the 1932 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. She was scheduled to serve as part of an eight-woman relay team and as an alternate sprinter in the 80-meter hurdles, the broad jump, and the 100-meter sprint, but did not actually compete in those games. When the 1936 games rolled around, Tidye was again selected to represent the US. A foot injury prevented Tidye from medaling in those games; however, she did earn the distinction of being the first African American woman to compete in an Olympic Games.

Tidye earned her bachelor's degree from Pestalozzi Froebel Teachers College in Chicago and her master's degree in education from Northern Illlinois University in August, 1956. Following her college graduation, Tidye accepted a position as a teacher at Cottage Grove Elementary in East Chicago Heights. She taught there for just one year, and then the talented educator was promoted to the position of principal of Woodlawn School in the same district. She remained in that position for 23 years until her retirement in 1980. In recognition for her many years of distinguished service, the district renamed her school Tidy A. Pickett School.

This amazing chalkboard champion passed away on November 17, 1986, at the age of 72.

Alice Bag: The Punk Rock Rebel Who Taught Elementary Bilingual Education

Throughout American history, there are numerous examples of exceptional educators who also exhibit talents in artistic endeavors. One such educator is Alice Bag, an elementary school bilingual education teacher who has also made a name for herself on the punk rock scene, author, and up-and-coming painter.

Alice Bag was born Alicia Armendariz on November 7, 1958, in the barrio of East Los Angeles. Her parents were impoverished immigrants from Mexico. As a youngster, Alice had few friends in school, and was often the target of bullies. She experienced the hardship of starting school without knowing how to speak English. This experience led her to become passionate about education, and especially about bilingual programs.

When just eight years old, Alice began her professional singing career. She recorded theme songs for cartoons in both English and Spanish. As an adult, she became the co-founder and lead singer of The Bags, one of the first girls punk rock groups to emerge from the Los Angeles area. The band, which was formed in the mid-70's, was most active during the years 1977-1981, during which time they released their best-known singles, "Survive" and "Babylonian Gorgon."

"Rock 'n' roll stands for rebellion," Alice once explained. "and if you're feeling disenfranchised, it gives you a voice." Alice had much to rebel against. An abusive father, for one thing; a Chicano culture that favored males, for another; and on top of that, racial discrimination against the Latino community. Music gave her the opportunity to channel that rebellion. For her pioneering work as a Latina punk rock performer, Alice has been featured in the Penelope Spheeris documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, and a traveling Smithsonian exhibition entitled "American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music."

After the break-up of The Bags, Alice studied how to bake pastries with a French patissier, studied painting at a community college, started a daily blog and website devoted to the history of the LA punk scene, and authored two books. In 2011, Alice published her memoir, Violence Girl: East L.A. Rage to Hollywood Stage: A Chicana Punk Story, which describes her childhood of domestic violence. The coming-of-age volume launched a reading and performance tour across the United States, and is also taught in university courses in the departments of literature, gender studies, and Chicano studies. Her second book, Pipe Bomb for the Soul, was released in 2015.

After Alice earned her bachelor's degree in philosophy from California State University at Los Angeles, she began teaching in inner-city schools in LA using the name Alice Velazquez, her married name. Now aged 57, she has retired after twenty years in the classroom. Alice says her years as a teacher has brought a sense of clarity to the lyrics of her current songs. "I was quick to get in arguments and often get in fights," she remembers of her pre-teaching years. "Working with children, I found that I couldn't ever be angry at a child. If there was a problem communicating or reaching the child, I felt like it was my responsibility to figure out how to communicate what I was trying to say," she explains. "I think I became a more effective communicator. I learned how to clarify my thoughts," she concludes.

Alice Bag currently lives in San Diego with her husband and three children.