Get to know the famous educators that paved the way for better education in the US

In celebration of the recently released documentary TEACH directed by the great Davis Guggenheim, here is a compilation highlighting some of America's Famous Educators. With their actions affecting and touching student's lives every day, these Famous Educators opened new doors for opportunities, tore down barriers and changed the education system as a whole.

Anne Sullivan

Anne Sullivan's collaborative work with Helen Keller became the backbone for educating children who are deaf, blind, visually impaired or those who have a combination of these three. Using her intelligence, as well as her intuition, she was able to develop revolutionary exercises. She was later given a place at the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2003.

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin was among the first autistic person to earn a Ph.D., exceeding all expectations from the people in the field of special education. She strongly believes all people with autism can do this, too. Working as an animal science professor in Colorado State University, she has created handling and grazing techniques that lessen animal stress. These methods are now widely used not only in North America, but also in other parts of the world. Aside from being a livestock management consultant, she travels to other parts of the globe to advocate for and inspire people with autism.

Albert Einstein

Although born in Germany, Albert Einstein became an American citizen. He was a faculty at the California Institute of Technology before he moved to Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study. He was given the Nobel Prize in 1921 due in part for his discovery of the photoelectric effect that later helped establish the quantum theory. His most popular innovations, however, are the theory of relativity and the equation E=mc2.

Stephen Hawking

Considered to be among the most popular theoretical physicists, Stephen Hawking worked for 30 years at the University of Cambridge and held the prestigious post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. His studies included revealing the mysteries surrounding the black hole. He has authored several books, the most notable if which is the worldwide bestseller entitled "A Brief History of Time."

W.E.B. Du Bois

Another person on the list of Famous Educators is a renowned activist for the rights of the AfricanĀ¬-American people. W.E.B. Du Bois taught in several higher learning institutes. In Atlanta University, he was chairman of the sociology department. In 1899, while working at the University of Pennsylvania, he penned "The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study," which went on to become one of the most significant urban community sociological studies. Using his discoveries, he helped create the NAACP.

Lisa Delpit

Dr. Lisa Delpit is best known for the work she did in diverse cultures and urban schools. She is among the first frontrunners of culturally appropriate teaching methods and approaches. She earned both her masters and doctorate degrees from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her forthright writing style still influences education in urban areas throughout the US.

Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first ever female to graduate with a medical degree from a college in the US. In 1821, she moved to the US from England since her father wished to eradicate slavery. She carried his legacy and went on to fight prejudice and slavery against women. She opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, which became the first ever women's teaching hospital.

Booker T. Washington

Thanks to his connections, Booker T. Washington was almost solely responsible for the flow of money to black colleges during the latter part of the 19th century. Although he was a slave by birth, he was eager to get an education. He established an industrial education school for African-American people because he felt that these were the fields where his people can gain equality.