Celebrating The Un-Famous People Of History

History's unsung heroes have been getting their long-overdue moments in the spotlight in Ben Purdy's Rocky River Middle School classroom, thanks to a totally made-up holiday that has delivered very real results by getting students excited about learning social studies. On this episode, the teacher who invented a day to celebrate The Un-Famous People Of History (aka TUFPOH) tells the story of how one small idea became a beloved tradition that helps inspire students to see themselves as the next generation of innovators and changemakers. And, he shares some of other innovative ways he sparks his students' curiosity and love of learning through creative lessons in his classroom. BONUS BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO | Ben Purdy believes in the power of having students see and touch history, so he turned his classroom into a living history museum full of real-world historical artifacts for his students to engage with and enjoy. Watch the video at the bottom of these show notes or click here to see Mr. Purdy show off some of his favorite historical pieces in his collection while diving deeper into why his classroom-turned-history museum can make such a big impact on students' learning. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected]. SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here. Featured Public Education Matters guest:  Ben Purdy, Rocky River Teachers Association MemberBen Purdy has taught social studies and English/Language Arts for 28 years, the last 26 of which has been in the Rocky River City School District.  He has surpassed 50 seasons coaching, including girls tennis and boys basketball.  As you would expect from a social studies teacher, he loves traveling and loves talking with people he meets along the way.  Ben lives in Rocky River with his two daughters, a yellow lab, and a golden retriever.   In this episode: 00:00 - Inventing a Holiday 03:05 - TUFPOH's Origin Story 06:06 - Ruth Wakefield, Q-Tips, and Unsung Innovators 08:17 - Songs, Traditions, and TUFPOH Celebrations 09:59 - Researching History’s “Unfamous” People 11:18 - Ben Purdy’s Family Connection to History 13:34 - The Power of Getting Students Excited to Learn 15:15 - Innovative Classroom Traditions That Stand the Test of Time 15:59 - March Madness Meets American History 16:47 - Fantasy History League: Drafting Africa 17:46 - Today's Kids Deserve More Credit than We Give Them 21:19 - What Students’ TUFPOH Choices Reveal 23:56 - Shark Tank Comes to Social Studies 24:35 - The Lasting Legacy of TUFPOH 25:58 - A Classroom That Feels Like a History Museum and Closing Thoughts Connect with OEA: Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics Like OEA on Facebook Follow OEA on Twitter Follow OEA on Instagram Get the latest news and statements from OEA here Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues  Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch About us: The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools. Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award-winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children.  This episode was recorded on July 15, 2026.