After several years of dealing with complications of dementia and type 1 diabetes, Michele Forman died on August 28, 2017, at her home in Salisbury. She is survived by her husband, Dick, and three beloved children: Elissa (and her husband, Ron Bush); Laura (and her partner, Rae Miller); and Tim (and his wife, Imelda Stamp.) She is also survived by her adored granddaughters, Anna and Juliana; her brother, Jack; her sister, Maureen; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Theodore and Dorothy Meenan Vickers.
Michele was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1946 and was raised in the Deep South. She dropped out of high school, moved north and studied history at Brandeis University. Michele served in the Peace Corps from 1967-1969, teaching in western Nepal. This experience engendered a passion for learning about peoples’ experiences in other cultures that shaped the rest of her career.
Michele taught World History at Middlebury Union High School for 29 years. Her classroom was a joyous jungle of giant plants, student art, maps, posters, provocative slogans, old couches and new ideas. Michele was selected as the National Teacher of the Year in 2001, an honor announced by President George W. Bush in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House. He cited her work in the classroom, her introducing the study of Arabic language and culture to her students, her scholarship, her work on education policy in the US, and her tireless service to history teachers across the country.
Michele treasured her connection to Vermont, but she was a global citizen — determined to understand and engage with the world around her. She was passionate about peoples’ history, peace, equity and social justice. She studied, worked and travelled extensively, from a Fulbright program in Senegal to meetings with the Japanese Education Ministry. Recognizing that the Arab world has been misrepresented in the West, Michele strived to help her students and her professional colleagues across the US appreciate the richness of Arab history and culture. She studied Arabic at Ohio State University and at Middlebury College and then taught Arabic language and culture at Middlebury Union High School.
Michele’s involvement with a number of professional and academic organizations included serving as a longtime member and chair of a College Board Academic Advisory Committee, president of the World History Association (2006-2008), an AP World History Consultant, co-writer of the National World History Standards, a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow in the National Leadership Program for Teachers and an Executive Committee member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Michele completed an MEd at the University of Vermont and taught there briefly. She was awarded three honorary doctorates, including one from Middlebury College.
Michele was also dedicated to serving the community. For many years, she and her young children made weekly visits to residents of the Helen Porter Nursing Home. She also helped start the first infant car seat program at Porter, served a term as president of the Porter Auxiliary, was in the first group of local Hospice Volunteers and served on Court Diversion panels.
Michele was an avid cross-country skier who often rode her bike to work when there was no snow. Silver Lake was a favorite hiking destination. She sewed elaborate teddy bears for new babies, and her gingerbread was beyond compare.
Over the past 18 months, Michele received excellent care at Project Independence and UVM Medical Center. Hope Hospice and Palliative Care helped care for her in Rhode Island, and Addison County Home Health & Hospice provided phenomenal care when we brought her home to Vermont. Following a sudden, severe illness last October, she was primarily cared for by her family, nurse Randy Dobbins, and several loving and attentive caregivers.
The family will be holding an informal gathering to honor Michele on Saturday, September 23. We’ll share some of her favorite foods, sit around and talk a bit, turn on a microphone at about 2 p.m. for anyone who’d like to say a few words, catch up with each other, maybe take a walk, and above all enjoy the afternoon. Just the sort of thing Michele would want us to do. If Michele ever touched your heart, please join us. Please email Dick at forman@middlebury.edu for details.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2017.
You have my sincere condolences and may the God of all comfort gives you comfort (2 Corinthians 1: 3,4)
I’m so very sorry to read this. Michelle was such a wonderful model for teachers in Vermont, and so committed to social action. I am glad to have known her, albeit only professionally. My condolences to the family and the Middlebury community.
As Michele’s scheduler/events coordinator during her formal year as 2001 National Teacher of the Year, I witnessed people and organizations across the spectrum of U.S. and international groups marvel at her talents. It was so well-deserved. She was the epitome of the phrase “smart as a whip.” Equally, she carried herself so well as both a representative of passionate, innovative teaching and as a policy leader/influencer in the field, both as Vermont Teacher of the Year and the national position. Her accomplishments across all of her important endeavors will be highly regarded and serve as professional models for years to come. My thoughts are so much with Dick and the family at this sad time.
Andy Drewlinger
National Teacher of the Year Program
Washington, DC
1998-2015
Michele managed to build a relationship with you in a very short period of time. She had to ability to see the best in you, as well as hold you accountable to the person you could and should be. I will always remember a singular conversation with Michele 16 years ago – one that made me see possibilities beyond my current reality. I have her to thank for an important decision in my teaching career that helped me sustain my passion as an educator. Michele had a true calling in education. Middlebury was so fortunate to have her for those 29 years. My condolences to her family and friends. She will be remembered.
Michele was an extraordinary world history educator who was an inspiration for us all in the classroom and in professional development, as well as in scholarly endeavors. I was energized by both her commitment to students, as well as by her belief that teachers are scholars in their own right. She was a dear friend whose global vision has touched thousands and has made the world a more tolerant, better place. She will be missed. My deepest condolences to her family, former students, and friends who will miss her wit, her intellect, and her compassion.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Michele was one of the ground floor teachers who really started the AP World History program. She was my first table leader at the reading, and I have always appreciated her knowledge, but also her patience with me as I learned how the system works. She was a wonderful part of our world history community.
I was honored to have her in my life as an amazing mentor and friend.
What a loss!
Deepest condolences!
Essie Howe