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…
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…