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The Everyday Heroes: 16 Teachers and School Leaders We’re Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Garrett Lewis
This article is one in a series at The Seventy Four which profiles the heroes, victories, success stories and random acts of kindness to be found at schools all across America. Read more of our recent inspiring coverage at The74million.org/series/inspiring.
November is a month of remembrance, a month for giving thanks. And so it seems appropriate that so many stories coming out of the schools this month were centered around commemorations and community. There was the class in Georgia that honored the service of three World War II veterans by inviting them to their classroom. And the students in North Carolina who reached out to their peers in need by opening a food pantry at their school. And the students in Texas who expressed their gratitude on the evening local news for their new school sidewalk, constructed after successfully petitioning the city council to build one.
But those stories are just the beginning. The more we searched the web this month, the more tributes we found to educators devoting their hours and efforts to benefit their students. Here’s a cornucopia of inspiring dispatches about teachers making a big difference in our nation’s schools.
16 teachers we’re thankful for this Thanksgiving month:
Mr. Getty and Mr. Fleitas save the day (Florida, Nov. 2) — When the 42-year-old father of a Lake Mary High School cross country runner collapsed at a meet earlier this month, two coaches jumped into action. Jay Getty of Hagerty High School in Oviedo performed CPR while Jorge Fleitas of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando communicated with a 911 operator. They ultimately helped save the dad's life. The man was later transported to the hospital where he was expected to recover after a surgical procedure. (Read more at the Orlando Sentinel)


 

Today is Mr. McEntyre's 89th Birthday! This morning, the Permian Band & Orchestra, along with Mr. Nail, stopped by Mr. McEntyre's house and wished him a "Happy MOJO Birthday"!!

Posted by The Permian High School Orchestra on Friday, November 13, 2015

 

Happy birthday Mr. McEntyre (Texas, Nov. 13) — Permian High School’s band and orchestra showed up at former music director Mr. McEntyre’s house to wish him a happy 89th birthday with a surprise front yard performance. Students and administrators said McEntyre made such an impact during his time at the Odessa school that they ultimately named a building after him in 1995. (Read more: KMID)

Ms. Doss, building bridges to Paris (Oklahoma, Nov. 18) — For three years, students in Rachel Doss’ French class at Tulsa School of the Arts and Sciences have been writing to pen pals in France. But the program took on a more urgent meaning after the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. One of the class’ French pen pals has a cousin who was injured during the attacks. Doss asked her students to write messages of solidarity, which they did with creativity and heart, to share with their friends on the other side of the Atlantic. (Read more: News on 6)


 

Teacher of the Year.Everyone expected a messy morning, but carrying kids across knee deep standing water to get to…

Posted by Garrett Lewis on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

 

Mr. Neissl, the hero in the flood (Arkansas, Nov. 17) — Matt Neissl, a physical education teacher at Ramsey Jr. High in Fort Smith, proved that being in good physical health does indeed come in handy when the going gets tough. After torrential rains left a flash flood of knee-deep water in the school’s parking lot, Neissl gave piggyback rides to students and a stranded motorist, carrying them to safety inside the school. (Read more: KFOR)

Ms. Junker, infusing discipline with empathy (California, Oct. 30) — Karen Junker, a math teacher at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael, trains teachers and schools to implement restorative discipline methods for behavioral issues, encouraging an open dialogue where there used to be discord. Solutions include student panels, relationship-based reintegration, and recognition of developmental stages and emotional responses. (Read more: WBUR)


 

Mr. Ulmer’s words of kindness (Florida, Nov. 17) — Chris Ulmer spends the first 10 minutes of every school day offering verbal compliments to his special education students in front of the entire class. He says the students followed his lead and are now complimenting each other without being prompted. Be sure to check out Ulmer’s Facebook page where he has posted videos featuring heartwarming interviews with his students about how they tackle the challenges they face. (Read more: ABC News)
Ms. Melluzzo’s house calls (Washington, Nov. 22) — After a redistricting measure last year, students from the Aladdin-Camelot Apartments in Lakewood, Washington began attending Park Lodge Elementary School. They now make up about one-third of the student body. So when it came time for parent-teacher conferences, the teachers were proactive in visiting the community, traveling to meet with parents in their apartment complex. Principal Synette Melluzzo said she wanted the parents to feel like a key part of their new school community. (Read more: The News Tribune)
Mr. Knoll’s Syria lesson (Wisconsin, Nov. 18) — Jason Knoll,  social studies teacher and model UN advisor at Verona Area High School, was so moved by the Syrian refugee crisis that he decided to incorporate it into lessons. His students, in turn, were so inspired by his class that they volunteered to help, creating a project called Verona Aid to help refugees and low-income families. The project is now raising funds for the UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) and is expanding to collect backpacks and school supplies for the local United Way chapter. (Read more: The Cap Times)


 

Columbus Elementary third graders and their family members shared an early Thanksgiving meal at the annual 3rd grade…

Posted by Mount Pleasant Central School District on Friday, November 20, 2015

 

Mr. Cunzio’s Thanksgiving feast (New York, Nov. 20) — The third-grade Thanksgiving Feast has become a rousing annual tradition at Columbus Elementary in Mount Pleasant, New York. Principal Mike Cunzio, Assistant Principal Terry Outhouse, teachers and lunch staff served up turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings to students as well as their parents, siblings, and grandparents. (See colorful photos from the festivities on the school’s Facebook page)
Mr. Matthews’ chess club (Virginia, Nov. 9) —  On Friday afternoons, parent Brett Matthews runs the chess club at Perrymont Elementary in Lynchburg, Virginia. Matthews recently ran a successful crowdfunding campaign to purchase a chess set for every student in the club. He says the game helps students learn to overcome ambiguity and build reasoning skills. (Read more: WSET)


 

Ms. Rankin, the hero who saved a boy suffering from a seizure (Ohio, Nov. 17) — When second-grade teacher Kara Rankin at McGregor Elementary School in Canton heard a scream from the classroom next door, she rushed over to find 8-year-old Jacob Vogt on the floor experiencing a seizure. Rankin rolled him on his side and he seemed to be improving, but suddenly he turned blue. She used her CPR training to help revive him. Young Jacob doesn’t remember the event, but says he plans to be a police officer when he is older so he can help people the same way he was helped by Rankin. (Read more: FOX 8)


 

With the principal of WWIS at his 1st Recital! Way to go Mr Day!

Posted by C Michael Trubl on Friday, October 30, 2015

 

Mr. Day’s opus (Ohio, Nov. 23) — When Principal Jeremy Day of Winton Woods Intermediate School approached music director Felipe Morales-Torres about joining the fifth-grade orchestra, it wasn’t for observation. Day plays in the viola section, receiving hands-on instruction from Morales-Torres right alongside students. Day says the idea of joining the orchestra came to him when he was brainstorming ways to lead by example. (Read more: Cincinnati Enquirer)
Mr. Fultz, our favorite blacksmith reenactor (Kentucky, Oct. 23) — Teaching history is not simply a vocation for Claiborne County High School teacher David Fultz. On the weekends, he can be found presenting living history demonstrations at Wilderness Road State Park as a blacksmithing reenactor. His 7-year-old daughter Maddie likes to dress up and accompany him. (Read more: Middlesboro Daily News)
Mr. Drue, the “Distinguished Principal” of Beaverton (Oregon, Nov. 12) — Aloha-Huber Park in Beaverton is one of the few schools in the state making significant progress towards closing the achievement gap. In 2006, Principal Scott Drue began making “radical” changes including creating small groups for math and language and teacher collaboration. Drue was recognized as one of 59 National Distinguished Principals this year. (Read more: Oregon Live)


 

Mr. Staples’ “Friendship Rock” (Virginia, Nov. 6) — Principal David Staples of Tussing Elementary School in Colonial Heights wanted to boost self-confidence and social skills in his students. So, he arranged for a large rock to be placed on his school’s playground. Students go to the rock to make friends and include others in play activities during recess. (Read more: The Progress-Index)

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