Category Archives: Education

Lucy Craft Laney founded first school for Black children in Augusta, GA

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Lucy Craft Laney founded the first school for Black children in Augusta, Georgia. Photo credit: Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History

During Women’s History Month, we celebrate remarkable American schoolteachers who have made significant contributions to public schools. Today, we celebrate Lucy Craft Laney, an African American teacher who founded the first school for Black children in Augusta, Georgia.

Lucy was born on April 13, 1854, in Macon, Georgia. Even though her parents had previously been enslaved people, her father had been able to save enough money to buy freedom for himself and his wife. Therefore, all  ten children born to the couple, including Lucy, were born into freedom. Lucy learned to read at the age of four, tutored by the sister of her parents’ former slaveowner. She continued to study and attended Lewis (later Ballard) High School in Macon, Georgia. The school was run by the American Missionary Association. In 1869 she entered the first class of Atlanta University, now known as Clark Atlanta University, where she studied to become a teacher. She earned her diploma from the school’s teacher training program in 1873.

Lucy spent the first ten years of her career as an educator in schools in Macon, Milledgeville, and Savannah, Georgia. She then relocated to Augusta, Georgia, where she founded the city’s first school for African American children in 1883. Her first class had an enrollment of only six students, but by the end of the following year, 234 students had enrolled. She was able to accommodate the increased enrollment through a generous donation from Francine Haines. To honor her benefactor, the grateful teacher changed the name of her school to the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute. For the next 50 years, Lucy served as the Principal of the Haines Institute.

Always dedicated to her community, Lucy became active in the NAACP, the National Association for Colored Women, and the Inter-Racial Commission. She also donated in efforts to integrate the community through the YMCA and the YWCA.

Sadly, Lucy Craft Laney passed away on October 23, 1933. To honor her, Jimmy Carter, then Governor of Georgia, arranged to hang her portrait and those of other influential African Americans in the Georgia State Capitol. That was in 1974. In 1992, Lucy was inducted into the halls of Georgia Women of Achievement. In 2005, the Georgia Historical Society recognized her with a historical marker at the Lucy Craft Lainey Museum of Black History in August, Georgia.

 

RI teacher Lucy Tootell served in her state’s House of Reps

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Elementary and junior high school teacher Lucy Tootell served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Photo credit: Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame

During Women’s History Month, we have the opportunity to recognize many fine classroom educators who also served their communities in a variety of capacities. Some have even gone on to make excellent politicians. One of these is Lucy Tootell, an elementary and junior high school teacher who also served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Lucy was born November 27, 1911, in Jacksonville, Illinois. Her mother was a former dramatics arts director at Rhode Island State College, now known as the University of Rhode Island. Her father was Roy Willard Rawlings, the last Republican Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. She was two years old when her family moved to the state of Rhode Island. When she became a teenager, Lucy attended South Kingstown High School for three years, but she graduated with honors from Westerly High School in 1929.

After her high school graduation, Lucy earned her Bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Rhode Island College of Education in 1933. She inaugurated her career as an educator at Roger Williams Junior High School, and later taught at the Richmond Elementary School. Later Lucy attended law school at Boston University. She also attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City during the summer of 1934, and Northwestern University, where she was offered the directorship of their renowned children’s theater.

The indefatigable educator served her community in many capacities. She served as the curator and archivist of the Kingston Little Rest Museum. She was instrumental in establishing and organizing the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, the Richmond Historical Society, and the  the Charlestown Historical Society. In addition, she was a lecturer and an author of many local history publications, books, and slide shows. Lucy also served as Council Commissioner of the Rhode Island Girl Scout Organization. In 1970, she was elected to the Richmond School Committee and, in 1972, was elected on the Republican ticket to the Rhode Island House of Representatives from Chariho District #52, where she served from 1973 until 1977.

For her tireless work on behalf of Rhode Island, Lucy was named “Woman of the Year” by the Chariho Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1974.She also garnered the “John Nicholas Brown Award,” from The League of RI Historical Societies in 1982.
In 1997, in recognition of her distinguished achievements in the field of and preservation of history, Lucy earned an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Rhode Island. In 2013, she was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away on January 5, 2010. To read more about Lucy Tootell, see this post on the website for the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

Elem teacher Deborah Stringfellow named Alabama’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary Reading and Language Arts teacher Deborah Stringfellow named Alabama State’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: The 1819 Newsletter

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the field of education. One of these is Deborah Stingfellow, an elementary school teacher from Coosada, Alabama. She has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Deborah currently teaches Reading and Language Arts to fourth graders at Airport Road Intermediate School in Coosada, Elmore County. In a career that spans four decades, she has taught at Airport Road for the past four. Prior to that, she taught in Snellville, Georgia, and Daleville, Alabama. She has taught regular education and gifted education, and at both the elementary and junior high school levels. She also served as an Assistant Principal in Snellville for four years of her career.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Deborah contributes to her community through the initiative she founded, Sowing Seeds: Growing Teachers, which involves partnering with schools and universities. The honored educator dedicates her time to mentoring new teachers, empowering experienced educators with essential resources, and presenting at conferences. 

Deborah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in Special Education, both from Troy University. She has also completed the requirements for an Education Specialist’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University. And she is a National Board Certified teacher. 

This exemplary educator possesses a strong passion for education, which comes from her humble beginnings. Both her parents had to quit school before reaching the eighth grade in order to help support their families. “Despite not having the opportunity for formal education, my parents understood its importance and instilled in me a strong work ethic, a deep appreciation for education and a commitment to lifelong learning,” Deborah declares. “As a young teenager, the realization of what could have been for my parents became a powerful motivator,” she continues. Later, her father earned his GED, and Deborah helped her mother earn her GED as well.

Congratulations, Deborah!

 

Educator Harriet Byrd served in both Wyoming’s House of Reps and State Senate

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Elementary school teacher Harriet Byrd served in both the Wyoming State House of Representatives and State Senate. Photo credit: Townsquare Media

Many dedicated educators have also served as excellent politicians. One of these is Harriet Elizabeth Byrd, an elementary school teacher from Cheyenne, Wyoming. She served in both her state’s House of Representatives and Senate.

Harriet was born on April 20, 1926, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her father was a mechanic for the Union Pacific Railroad, and her mother was a homemaker. As a young girl, Harriet attended Cheyenne High School, where she graduated in 1944. Three years later she married James W. Byrd. The union produced three children.

In 1949, Harriet earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from West Virginia State College, a historically Black college located in Institute, West Virginia. Once she earned her degree, the neophyte teacher returned to Wyoming to apply for a teaching position with the Laramie County School District. Unfortunately, she was denied the position because she was Black.

Fortunately, Harriet was hired as a civilian instructor for the Department of Administrative Services at F. E. Warren air Force Base in Wyoming. She taught there for ten years. In 1959, administrators at Laramie School District reversed their earlier stance and gave Harriet a job as an elementary school teacher. She taught in that district for 27 years. In 1976, the veteran educator completed the requirements for her Master’s degree at the University of Wyoming.

In 1980, Harriet was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. There she represented the 44th Assembly District until 1988. She also served in the Wyoming State Senate, representing the 8th Senate District from 1988 to 1992. In fact, the former teacher was the first African American to serve in both houses. While in the legislature, Harriet worked to improve child safety laws, social services programs for adults, and improved conditions for the handicapped. She also worked to create a state holiday to honor Martin Luther King.

Harriet was also active in a number of professional organizations. She was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Education Association, the Wyoming Education Association, the American Legion Auxiliary in Cheyenne, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was a past president of the Search Light Club, the oldest African American women’s club in Wyoming.

This amazing Chalkboard Champion passed away on January 27, 2015, at her home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was 88 years old. To read more about her, check out this link  created by the University of Wyoming.

Science teacher Micah Depper of Maine garners Milken Educator Award

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Middle school science teacher Micah Depper of Maine has garnered a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2024-2025. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

It is always a pleasure for me to share the story about a talented educator who has earned recognition for his work in the classroom. One of these is Micah Depper, a junior high school school science teacher from Maine who has garnered a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2024-2025. He is one of only 45 educators to be so honored this year.

Micah teaches courses in science to seventh grade students at Bath Middle School located in Bath, Maine. There he promotes learning through an inquiry-based lessons which cover such topics as biological evolution, metabolism, contact forces, bacterial resistance, genetics, climate resilience, ecosystems, and invasive species.

In addition to his science courses, Micah offers students instruction in electronic music production so students to explore their interest in music. His group is known on campus was Depper’s BMS Rock Band, and is comprised of an eight-week music club that includes students with little to no musical experience. Participants learn how to play an instrument and perform at school assemblies and the school play.

What motivates Micah to work so hard? “Kids. I love working with kids,” he declares. “It’s a really hard job and it’s a job where you are constantly on the wheel, and you have to be prepared every day to be on for seven hours and make sure your lesson is tight, but you are also building community and emotional support for your students and colleagues,” he continues.

Micah earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, in 2010. He earned his Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at Antioch University in 2013.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the award includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country whose work strengthens best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.