Ellen Kempler
2001 Inductee
Miami, Florida
Retired
Total years as a classroom teacher: 35
Education
1966 | University of Miami, B.A. in English |
1968 | John Carroll University, Courses in aesthetics and ethics |
1972 | Harvard University, M.A.T. in English |
1975 | CIDOC intensive language school, Certified competent in Spanish |
Career Experience
1997-2001 | 9th grade English, 12th grade Ethics and Leadership |
1995-1997 | 7th grade English (honors) |
1987-1995 | 9th-12th grade English (gifted/honors/AP); Philosophy colloquium, Miami Beach Sr. High, Miami, Florida |
1976-1987 | 7th-9th grade Gifted Program, So. Central Area Gifted Center at Coral Gables Sr. High, Miami, Florida |
1974-1976 | 10th-11th grade English, Miami Beach Sr. High, Miami, Florida |
1972-1974 | 10th-11th grade English, Miami Sr. High, Miami, Florida |
1966-1971 | 10th-12th grade English; English as a Second Language, Miami Sr. High, Miami, Florida |
Honors/Awards
2002 | Florida Women of Achievement Honoree |
2001 | Board member: UNICEF - Florida |
1999-present | Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (Recording Secretary) |
1997-1998 | Teacher of the Year |
1994 | Most Significant Teacher to class valedictorian |
1992 | Associate of Writing Institute (one of 25 master teachers in the county) |
1990-1994 | Peace Education Foundation (Chair of the Board) |
1978-1982 | Quality Instruction Incentive Program (Elected by peers to manage incentive program at Coral Gables Sr. High) |
"Ms. Kempler has the gift of finding talent and academic strength in every student and inspiring them to use their strengths to express themselves in a positive way." Cassandra Dunager-Bullens, |
Career Highlights
- Kempler wrote that 'Life is a huge relay race, I am alive and carrying the baton now. The future depends on me as surely as my generation depended on our teachers and their teachers and their teachers.'
- Kempler and others began MicroBusiness USA which provides small loans to people who would never qualify for commercial loans so that they may become self-sufficient and have their dignity restored. The program has provided more than $1 million in loans to more than 1,000 borrowers with a 95% repayment rate.
- As a sponsor of the National Honor Society this year, she and her students wrapped 67 individually wrapped Christmas presents for the Children's Home Society for abused and neglected children.
"Ellen has created scores of teachers and physicians [and others] who have come to know their best through the highest order thinking skills brought to their own shadow boxes and skits, their own surging writings and focused commentaries. She has taught principals and fellow teachers, parents and children."
Jenny Oren Krugman, District Supervisor,
Secondary Advanced Academic Programs,
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Florida
From the National Teachers Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2001 Inductees press release.... |
Described by a colleague as "the fizz on a coke," Ellen Kempler effervesces as she guides students through literary projects well beyond their years. As she empowers students, so, too, she empowers community members. MicroBusiness USA, a minority microbank with more than a thousand borrowers, was founded on Kempler's dining room table. The bank makes small loans to ordinary citizens who would never qualify for commercial loans, and in so doing, helps them become self-sufficient. A Miami-Dade County Public School Administrator was asked how he could deftly calm the waters in a contentious meeting about school boundary lines. The administrator credits the teacher he still calls Ms. Kempler. "She made me see that I was gifted in working with people. I'll never forget how she jump-started my whole sense of me." |