Latest news with #MichellePearson
CBS News
21-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado teacher gets a big surprise: she's being inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame
CBS News recently gave some good news to a special group of teachers across the country. For a segment on "CBS Mornings," they were able to tell five teachers in five different states that they were inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame, including one in Colorado. Teacher Michelle Pearson works with a student at Century Middle School in Thornton. CBS Denver-area teacher Michelle Pearson has spent 31 years sharing her love of learning with students. Her principal at Century Middle School in Thornton says she's often the first person to arrive at school and the last one to leave. Pearson also has a passion for getting outside the classroom. She has taken students to national parks and monuments, including Colorado National Monument on the Western Slope and the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York. She has had them work with legislators to help craft the Great American Outdoors Act, which helped to fund public lands. CBS News reporter David Begnaud interrupted Michelle Pearson's social studies class at Century Middle School to surprise her with the news that she is a 2025 National Teacher Hall of Fame inductee. CBS CBS News contributor David Begnaud interrupted Pearson's social studies class to break the news to her that she is a 2025 National Teacher Hall of Fame inductee. It was a very big surprise for Pearson, who was then flown to New York City for an in-studio appearance this week on "CBS Mornings." At an assembly where Begnaud broke the news to the entire school, the student body was amped up and eager to celebrate their teacher. Pearson credited everyone she works with and everyone she teaches for the honor. "All I'm going to say is, I'm not here because of me, I'm here because of you guys and because of your teachers," she said. "You only reach excellence because of those you lift up." Principal Kristin Devlin-Vollmar presents teacher Michelle Pearson with a plaque. CBS Maddie Fennell, executive director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame, said Pearson and the four other teachers who are being inducted this year "embody excellence, compassion and commitment to students." "We are thrilled to partner with CBS to shine a well-deserved national spotlight on the people shaping the future of our country," Fennell said in a prepared statement. Pearson will be inducted in a ceremony in Kansas on June 20. The National Teachers Hall of Fame is located in Emporia and the ceremony will take place at Emporia State University. Only one other Colorado teacher is in the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Marjorie West from Lakewood was inducted in 1995. She was the "first blind teacher in Colorado to be allowed to continue to teach in the regular classroom with a guide dog, "Rush," and full-time aide," according to the NTHF website. As part of the honors, each of the teachers will be given $20,000 by Canva, and their schools each also got $20,000. Century Middle School is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools.
Health Line
11-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Mom, Daughter Diagnosed With NF1-PN: What to Know About the Rare Disease
A mother and daughter share the same rare genetic disease that causes tumor growth throughout the body. After living with neurofibromatosis type 1 with plexiform neurofibromas (NF1-PN) for four years, daughter Samatha Pearson was accepted into a clinical trial that changed her life. The mother-daughter duo shares their journey of managing the condition and advocating for others living with the rare disorder. In July 2015, Samantha Pearson was at summer camp playing a running game in the gym when her knee buckled, and she collapsed. 'The pain started immediately,' she told Healthline. When she told her parents about the pain, they decided to wait and see if it would subside on its own. However, after a few days of constant pain, they took her to the doctor. 'After doing an X-ray of my knee cap, he showed mom the tumor in my femur and knee, and he said to go see an orthopedic surgeon,' said Samantha. A couple of days later, at the orthopedic surgeon's office, an X-ray of Samantha's waist down revealed 27 tumors. The doctor informed Samantha and her mom, Michelle, that she most likely had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) with plexiform neurofibromas (PN), a chronic disease in which tumors grow along nerves and can cause severe pain, mobility issues, and disfigurement. 'He handed me a note with the condition written on it and told me to call Shriners Children in Salt Lake City because there was no one in Las Vegas who could treat her. I was terrified,' Michelle told Healthline. A rare genetic disease After waiting for several months, Samantha was able to get an appointment at Shriners Children's Hospital in October 2015. 'The doctor took one look at Samantha and said, 'You have neurofibromas' and he looked at me and said, 'She got it from you,'' said Michelle. While NF1 is a genetic condition, as many as half of those diagnosed with NF1 might not have a family member with the condition, said Phioanh Leia Nghiemphu, MD, professor of clinical neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and clinical director of the UCLA Neurofibromatosis Program. 'Within one family, the manifestations of NF1 can also be different, so even if a family has many members with NF1, not all of them will have NF1-PN,' she told Healthline. Like the Pearsons, people with NF1 might have PN developed since birth, but the PN might not be diagnosed until their late adolescence or adult age, Nghiemphu added. Based on visual characteristics of the condition, including neurofibromas and freckling, the doctor determined that both Samantha and her mother have the same condition. Michelle had experienced partial deafness in her left ear for about a decade, which she learned was due to a tumor near her ear. 'It was a shock. I had never heard the word neurofibromas before,' said Michelle. 'I had no idea I had this. When the doctor told us about the visual characteristics, I asked my parents if it runs in the family and I checked out my two boys to see they had any symptoms.' Her sons showed no signs and her parents knew of no one else in the family with the condition. Michelle was relieved that her sons didn't have the condition and that she didn't experience debilitation or pain from it. However, it was difficult to witness Samantha's suffering, she said. 'Because [the tumors] grow on nerves and can grow very large, they can cause disfiguration, pain, difficulty using various body organs because of compression, or numbness and paralysis,' said Nghiemphu. Removing tumors by surgery can be painful, too, yet if they are not removed, they have a rare risk of developing into cancer called malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), which is rare. But in most cases, NF1 is not a deadly disease. Most people with the condition have an average life expectancy. A life-changing clinical trial Because Shriners does not provide emergent care, Samantha was referred to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City to have the tumor in her left femur removed. However, the doctor who was recommended to Michelle through a parents' support group had a three-year waiting list. 'I didn't care that he had a three-year waiting list. I wasn't going to leave until Samantha saw him,' said Michelle. 'I was unruly, outspoken, and unconventional cause I'll do anything for my kid. I had no interest in keeping quiet. My daughter was not well.' Her advocacy resulted in Samantha receiving care from the doctor, who suggested that Samantha participate in a clinical trial. After not qualifying for several trials, in 2019, she finally qualified for the Phase 2b ReNeu trial, which studied the medication Gomekli (mirdametinib). Samantha took the first dose of medication in December 2020. 'The beginning of the trial was rough. I got a bad, painful acne rash, nausea, and vomiting was the worst part. I had no appetite, and I'd try to eat something and then immediately throw up,' said Samantha. After about six months of participating in the trial, she was ready to give up until she received good news. 'My mom and dad were moving my brother to college and big things for the boys always turn into something about me and so I wanted to be respectful, so I asked mom if she had two minutes to walk away and hear good news,' said Samantha. She shared that the doctors informed her that her tumor had shrunk by 82%. By the end of the trial, she had 90% shrinkage by volume and her pain was significantly reduced. 'Before the trial… even putting on a t-shirt or bra would hurt it. I'm a very physical touch person and love hugs; hugs would hurt. Coughing too hard would hurt, sneezing would hurt,' said Samantha. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gomekli in February 2025 for adults and children with NF1-PN. The approval was based on the trial Samatha participated in. 'A few years ago, surgery was the only option, which can lead to many complications, and up to approximately 85% of plexiform neurofibromas cannot be completely removed through surgery,' said Nghiemphu. In addition to Gomekli, there is one other FDA-approved medication for the treatment of PN in pediatric patients with symptomatic, inoperable NF1-PN. However, it is not approved for adults. 'It is very recent that we finally have medical treatments for NF1-PN, but they are not perfect and do not work for everyone, and we hope that we can continue with research programs that help patients with these rare conditions so they can lead better lives,' Nghiemphu said. Humor, advocacy helped them cope While they were close before they learned they had NF1-PN, the condition brought Michelle and Samantha closer. Michelle said humor helped strengthen their bond. 'I would mock her. I don't mean that in a nasty way but I had to make her laugh. It kind of stinks. Why my kid? Why is this happening? We tried really hard to laugh at everything,' she said. When Samantha complained about the pain in her plexiform, they nicknamed it plexi, referring to it in a silly, whiny voice. 'I'd say, 'My plexi, you're hurting me,'' said Samantha. Then they'd laugh together. While waiting at the hospital, she also relied on her mom's humor to help pass the time. She recalled a time they waited in radiology for images and played the game Heads Up. 'We were shaking money makers and my dad said, 'I'm not doing that, that's all you.' We wrestled, we stop drop and rolled,' said Samantha. Michelle went all out. 'I know people were staring at us, but the fact of the matter is that everyone who was staring was wishing their mom was just as much of a lunatic as I am and that they were playing it too,' she said. 'If I can keep one mom from feeling that fear because Samantha and I are making fun of each other, then awesome.' They also share a passion for spreading awareness about NF1-PN by speaking and attending events with the Neurofibromatosis Network and the Children's Tumor Foundation. Samantha has also advocated on Capitol Hill and continues to share her story to inspire others. 'I let [this disease] define me for a while, and I was told I was never going to dance again, and dance was my first passion and first love, and two years later, after my first surgery, I was back dancing on my high school dance team,' she said. While it wasn't easy, she also excelled academically in high school. Today, she is attending college and working toward becoming a certified nursing assistant as she aspires to eventually become a registered nurse.
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
What's Going Right In Classrooms—and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
A lot is hard in education right now. Educators are navigating historic funding cuts, political pressure, and rapid technological shifts—often without clear guidance or support. But in the midst of it all, something else powerful is happening: Teachers are leading. They're creating inclusive, innovative, and future-ready classrooms that not only will prepare students for tomorrow's workforce but are helping them thrive today. For Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, I asked some of the nation's top educators—State Teachers of the Year, members of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY), and finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition—what's going right—and what we can learn from the people making it happen. What emerged is a powerful story of resilience, hope, and purpose in the face of headwinds. Across the country, teachers are already feeling the effects of funding cuts. 'Somebody equated it to the Road Runner cartoon where the anvil hits Wiley Coyote and just smacks him," is how Michelle Pearson, a middle school teacher in Colorado, put it. Supports for educators and students are shrinking—but peer-to-peer collaboration is growing stronger. Teachers are leaning on one another for ideas, moral support, and practical solutions. One educator called this community a kind of 'Dumbledore's Army'—a quiet resistance committed to doing what's right for students, even when the systems around them fall short. With federal STEM funding increasingly uncertain, many teachers are taking innovation into their own hands. Creative community projects, shared lesson plans, and partnerships with local organizations are becoming the norm, not the exception. When formal support falls short, teachers rely on each other. Even as diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts face scrutiny from some quarters, teachers remain deeply committed to creating classrooms where every student feels seen, valued, and capable of greatness. That means reflecting students' identities in the curriculum, celebrating cultural, linguistic, and racial diversity, and creating opportunities for all students to see themselves as scientists, creators, and problem solvers. Lynn Jeka, a 6th grade science teacher in Nevada, shared how she fosters belonging despite external pressures. 'From day one in my classroom, I have a whole bulletin board that says Everyone belongs in science. We feature scientists from all backgrounds—Latino, Native American, those with learning or physical disabilities," serving as a daily reminder that science is for everyone. But it's not always easy. In some districts, educators are navigating how to address equity without naming it directly. 'How do we make sure people aren't left behind,' asked Dr. LouAnn Ross, CEO of NNSTOY, 'when we can't really address things quite out loud?' Still, the resolve is there. Teachers are finding creative if quiet ways to keep equity at the center of their work—because they know from experience that their students need it to achieve their full potential. Artificial intelligence is no longer a future issue—it's here, and teachers are being asked to make it work in real time. While many are still learning the tools, the most successful AI integrations are happening where educators are empowered with clear guidelines, ongoing training, and the space to explore ethical and instructional questions openly. In classrooms where AI is working well, it's being used not to replace teachers, but to support differentiated learning, spark student creativity, and connect complex STEM ideas to real-world applications. 'AI gives students so many platforms to show learning,' said Gargi Adhikari, a 4th grade math and science teacher in New Jersey, 'but we still need that social, emotional piece that a teacher can give, that human-to-human touch.' At the same time, teachers are learning alongside their students, which can be generative and exciting. 'Students are excited by the process of trying to figure all that out,' Adrienne Wiggins, a K-5 computer science teacher in Nevada, shared, "and I'm learning, too." The need for equitable access to technology remains a major hurdle. Not every student or school has access to the devices or infrastructure needed to make AI integration meaningful—or fair. But where the tech exists, and where teachers are trusted to lead, it's already opening up new doors for students. Across the country, students are using STEM to tackle real problems in health, sustainability, accessibility, and more—with their teachers guiding the way. A recent national competition sponsored by Samsung, Solve for Tomorrow, invited teacher-student teams to design innovative solutions to real-life problems. Teams created practical and inventive solutions that touched every facet of life, from an AI-powered oral cancer screening app to a 3D-printed smart bandage that helps monitor wound healing in areas with a shortage of doctors. These breakthroughs aren't just about tech—they're about purpose. As Alison Stransky, CMO of Samsung Electronics North America, put it, 'We see STEM as the basis for students creating purposeful innovation. If they understand this, they'll be the leaders who use STEM to create social change.' Teachers are the ones creating the conditions for that kind of learning—whether it's through hands-on community projects, inclusive, challenging curriculum, or simply offering students the time, skills, and support to follow their curiosity to the solutions of tomorrow. 'What gives me hope is seeing how quickly students adapt and how curious they are, especially when they're looking at the world around them,' Tehmina Khan, an elementary science and math teacher in Connecticut, offered. Despite everything, teachers continue to find joy. They're watching students who once struggled light up during hands-on investigations. They're seeing young people step up as collaborators, as leaders, as change-makers. 'Something I've noticed," said Lynn Jeka, a 6th grade science teacher in Nevada, "is with all the advances in technology, there seems to be this sense of wonder, of like, what can we do next? I mean, things that we would have never dreamed of as little as 10 years ago, kids are seriously considering.' Lynn and other teachers are hearing questions like: Can we live on the moon? Can I code a solution to this problem? What's the best way to help my community? The answer, again and again, is clear: Yes. Yes, you can. And yes, you matter. This Teacher Appreciation Week, let's celebrate what teachers are doing—quietly, urgently, powerfully—to build that future with their students. Let's trust them. Let's support and invest in them. And let's remember that in classrooms across the country, the future is already taking shape—because teachers are at the heart of it.
