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Police identify the victims in the Nashville elementary school shooting. The children killed were all 9 years old. cnn.it/3zhVjIN
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RT @CNN: The shooter who killed six people, including three students, at a Christian school in Nashville on Monday morning was a 28-year-ol…
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UPDATE: 3 students and 3 adults killed in shooting at private Christian elementary school in Nashville, police say.twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Hj
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At least 3 children killed in shooting at private Christian elementary school in Nashville, a local hospital confirtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…Ps
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Nashville police say a gunman is dead following an "active shooter event" at a private Christian elementary school cnn.it/3JRl1c4
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Controversial plans to overhaul Israel's judiciary will be paused, one of Netanyahu's far-right coalition partnerstwitter.com/i/web/status/1…HA
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Embattled Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu calls on protesters to "behave responsibly" and avoid violence. Followtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…Le
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iReport daily challenge: #BeAHero for teachers
Editor's Note: Learn about the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010 and vote for the CNN Hero of the Year at CNNHeroes.com.
America’s public schools are failing. That’s the provocative premise of two new education documentaries “Waiting for Superman” and “The Lottery.” The films, which follow families who are frustrated with the public schools in their neighborhoods, have sparked a debate about what education solutions are needed.
One of the chief complaints in the discussion is that the films ignore the good work that’s happening in public schools.
You can help.
Here's your “Be a Hero” call to action for the day: Give a public shout out to a public school teacher who made a difference in your life. It could be your child’s teacher, or an instructor you had as a child.
By 3 p.m. EST today post your response in the comments here, tweet your praise with the hashtag #BeAHero or send us an iReport about that special teacher. Which teacher did you choose? How did that person inspire, motivate or change you?
Check back here in the evening, when we will post a roundup of the most standout daily heroics.
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@cnnbrk on Twitter
There have been many teachers who have touched my life. I am a teacher myself thanks to the following:
Mrs. Hopkins- Ross Elementary School
Mrs. Karla Templeton (Willingham)- Southwind Elementary
Mrs. Kim McDaniel- Southwind Middle School
They taught me that if I always tried my best, I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. They always treated every student in the classroom with respect and showed they truly cared for each of us. For that, I thank them and all the teachers out there who do the same!
I had many wonderful teachers while attending public school in Copiague, New York. Mrs. Mulvaney 9th grade english, Mr. Malone my baseball coach. Mrs. Solomon my 2nd grade teacher. Ms. Oshinsky my 3rd grade teaacher. All of these teachers and many more have had a profound impact on how I lead my life. I appreciate all the hard work that these and all teachers do for their students. As in any profession we can always find individuals who we feel are not adequate, but too often we tend to talk only of those who we feel are inadequate.
I am thankful for education in whatever form it comes.
Mrs. Jan Thompson was the teacher that made the biggest difference in my life. Some days, her class was a nightmare with all of the tests and quizzes in Advanced Placement US History, but at the end of the day no matter what grade we earned, she made sure that we knew the material. Before our midterm and final exam, Mrs. Thompson agreed to be at school an hour early to help us review for the exams. She was always there bright and early at 6:30 in the morning ready to teach us as much as she could in that hour before school started. She has prepared me for college and has increased my love and enthusiasm of US history not only by teaching us, but also by encouraging us to learn more every day.
The following inspired me to become an educator: Mrs. Chambers-3rd grade at Oakville Elementary in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Webb-counselor at Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati Ohio ,Mrs. Glesnore-Government, Mr. Phil WIlson-drama and speech , Mrs. Carver-Journalism, and my 10th grade English teacher all from Eastmoor High School in Columbus, Ohio. All of these folks worked to bring out the best in each student while demanding excellence and quality work. As the child of divorce and a single mother for many years, school was my sanctuary.
Ms. Henry from Fallston High School in Fallston, MD was my 10th and 12th grade English teacher. She challenged me consistently and knew not to accept mediocre work from me. I felt more prepared for writing in college English classes because of her assignments. She taught me to stop underestimating myself and to start putting more trust into what I know and understand. She didn't want us to just regurgitate facts, but actually challenge our own thinking. During undergraduate, I frequently went back to thank her, and she frequently asked me when I was going to finally decide to be an English teacher. It took earning a bachelor's degree to realize it, but I am finally enrolled in a master's degree program to be an English teacher, just as she thought I would. I can only hope to some day have a similar impact on my students students some day.
I would like to also recommend two teachers my daughter had in second grade Mary Ann Hogan and Susan Harrington. They made going to school fun experience and made the class environment exciting for the children. The children in the class were always full of energy and enthusiasm. it was always a pleasure to stop buy and get involved with many of teh activities tehy had come up with to help in learning the curriculum. Their efforts were particularly appreciated especially when we had to get the kids ready for school with tempratures were in the single digits or even in the negative . They are certainly deserving of the Gold star.
Floral street elementary school Shrewsbury MAssachuttes.
Ms. Vanessa Seminario and Ms. Gina Fernandez are my daughter's 2nd grade dual language teachers. The dual language program is the best (and only) thing our district has going for it and these teachers make it work. They work well together and it shows with the consistency of all lessons big and small in the classroom. They like to promote community to the kids which is really important. These ladies teach at Brandenburg Elementary in Irving, TX
olanda R. Johnson, Cleveland Elementary School, Washington, DC
Admidst of the endless publicity of Michelle Rhee & Mayor Fenty's reform of DC PUblic Schools are the unsung Hero's who are still desparately trying to educate DC kids. Mrs. Johnson, who cant sleep at night and worries throughout the day about the roaming evaluatators coming to observe and report at any given moment goes above and beyond for the bilingual students she teaches. Often she remains at work long after the school day has ended planning and preparing for her lessons until 7-8pm at night. Her high school son, who also attends DC Public Schools often leaves his school to come to sit in her classroom– just to spend time with her before the end of the day.
She spends hours writing proprosals through Donors Choose seeking funds for everything from educational activities to the basics such as toilet paper and paper towels for her classroom. She finds innovative ways to reach her students by breaking away from textbooks and providing experiential learning. I bet you didnt know there are several urban gardens in DC? but she did and took her students to one to pick vegetables and found a chef to come in and teach her students about preparing fresh foods.
It's not the extrordinary gestures that make a remarkable teacher but the many small things that often go overlooked.
I want to thank all the teachers at West Melbourne School for Science, West Melbourne, FL – since they work as a team to teach my girls and all the students in the best and most effective ways possible. There is a reason this public school is tops in our county!!! Also I'd like to thank the following past teachers:
Jodi Mills and Ms. Kissinger – Chocachatti Elementary School, Brooksville, FL for making my daughter's kindergarten year a fruitful one! So creative and fun, yet they taught so much within that frame work!
Mrs. Taylor is an exceptional teacher who works in Lancaster, CA. She takes the time to listen to her students in 8th grade and has been there for the parents, as well. She has been shifted all over that school district because of incompetent management, but, she perseveres. Good job, Mrs. Taylor – your whole class, present, past and future salute you!
Mrs. Pattison is a 3rd Grade teacher at Lake Fenton School system in Lake Fenton, Mi. She previously taught 5th grade and works hard to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience for her students. At the end of the school year her students presented her with a scrapbook filled with pages of all their memorable experiences in the class room thru the year and it is not uncommon to walk in her classroom and see one of her previous students stopping in to say "hi" . Wjhen one of her students was killed in a snowmobile accident she did everything possible to help her students get thru the tragedy and the rest of the school year. She helps with extra activities and is very active in fundraising for Breast Cancer & Relay for Life.
Yolanda R. Johnson, Cleveland Elementary School, Washington, DC
Admidst of the endless publicity of Michelle Rhee & Mayor Fenty's reform of DC PUblic Schools are the unsung Hero's who are still desparately trying to educate DC kids. Mrs. Johnson, who cant sleep at night and worries throughout the day about the roaming evaluatators coming to observe and report at any given moment goes above and beyond for the bilingual students she teaches. Often she remains at work long after the school day has ended planning and preparing for her lessons until 7-8pm at night. Her high school son, who also attends DC Public Schools often leaves his school to come to sit in her classroom– just to spend time with her before the end of the day.
She spends hours writing proprosals through Donors Choose seeking funds for everything from educational activities to the basics such as toilet paper and paper towels for her classroom. She finds innovative ways to reach her students by breaking away from textbooks and providing experiential learning. I bet you didnt know there are several urban gardens in DC? but she did and took her students to one to pick vegetables and found a chef to come in and teach her students about preparing fresh foods. She has true compassion for her students and families whom often english is not their primary language. It's not the extrordinary gestures that make a remarkable teacher but the many small things that often go overlooked.
A heartfelt "thank you !" to Ms Carolyn Bracey, Mathematics teacher at Brooks High in Killen AL in the 80s – I was 'good' at math when I entered 9th grade, but it was just a subject. Ms Bracey taught me to love it, to see the uses of algebra & trigonometry, to clamor for more. I hope I'm doing her legacy justice by teaching my own kids that math is more than numbers on paper.
Mrs. Fallon, English teacher @ Brooks in the same timeframe : She taught me to embrace the language & the literature, for which I will be forever grateful.
I myself am a physics teacher at Valley Stream South H.S. in New York. Neil Sirignano was my department chair, and taught AP Psychology and Living Environment. While I did tend to be stubbornly set in my teaching methods, his passion inspired me and made me want to be a better teacher, one that actually taught students life lessons beyond the subject material. Whenever he taught, his voice could be heard booming down the hallways of our school. And his students would still recount him as their favorite teacher many years later. Though he has since retired, I hope that one day I am able to make the same impact that he has upon all the students that I have taught.
A gold star should go to Shawn Walker from Middletown High School in Middletown, OH. He hasn't been teaching for very long, but has made a huge impact on his students. He teaches science with such enthusiasm, you can't help but get excited about what he's saying. He has taken a subject that most kids find boring and only take as a requirement and made it a fun, memorable time each day. He has a great rapport with the students and speaks to you as if you are an equal, not a burden or someone he has to deal with just to get that paycheck.