- Date Of Birth: March 31, 1938
- Date Of Death: August 24, 2011
- State: Arizona
Jean Marie Boatman was born on March 31, 1938 in New York City, New York to Maurice and Doris Boatman. She grew up near Grinnell, Iowa and attended Oberlin College in Ohio as an undergraduate majoring in psychology. Receiving a National Defense Education Act (NDEA) grant, she attended University of Michigan where she completed a Masters degree in Comparative Education.
Jean taught at Millikin University and Ball State University, before moving to Washington D.C. For the next 29 years, she was an Early Childhood Learning Specialist, a Team Leader, and a teacher in Centers for Gifted Students in Fairfax County, VA. In 1981-82 she was a Senior Fulbright Scholar lecturing at Yerevan University in Soviet Armenia for eight months. She also conducted a six-week long Japanese Humanities Study-Travel Enrichment Program for Fairfax County high school students in 1986. In 1991, with the break-up of the Soviet Union, Jean inaugurated an exchange program with a sister school in St. Petersburg, with yearly exchanges until 1999.
For three years she was president of the Virginia Geographical Society, organizing state-wide K-12 geography fairs. As a member of the National Councils for Social Studies and for History, she gave numerous talks and workshops. In 1991-92 she was on the American History Planning Committee for National Assessment of Educational Programs. In 1994 she received the distinction of being named the “Outstanding National History Day Teacher of the Year.” She was also frequently nominated for Who’s Who in American Education and for the Fairfax County Teacher of the Year Award.
In 1990, Jean moved to Fountain Hills and was Coordinator of Gifted Education for the Fountain Hills Unified School District (FHUSD), teaching 3rd to 6th grade gifted students in all three schools. In 1995, when the district moved to establish self-contained gifted classes, Jean taught the 5th grade gifted and talented class. She continued the National History Day experience for 6th graders, inaugurated participation in the Challenger Center Model Space Station Competitions, and directed numerous class plays. Over thirty of her FHUSD students have competed in National History Day at Nationals in Washington, D.C., and is one of only a few teachers named “Outstanding National History Day Teacher of the Year” in two states: AZ and VA. She had many teams as finalists in the Challenger Center competitions as well.
Retiring in 2009, after 46 years in education, Jean was active in Fountain Hills community organizations that promoted educational opportunities. She worked with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) American History essay contests and scholarships, the P.E.O.
Jean Marie Boatman is survived by her mother Doris Boatman of Fountain Hills, Arizona and her sons Hrant Jamgochian of Bethesda, Maryland and Bill Plews of Ann Arbor, Michigan as well as her daughter Margaret Plews of Phoenix, Arizona.
Jean will always be remembered for her passion and dedication to her students, family, friends and community.
