Virginia sharecropper’s daughter Margaret Hill rose to become a teacher, administrator, and school board member. She was considered an icon in her Southern California community. Photo credit: Precinct Reporter group.

There are many examples of fine educators who have risen from poverty to make a significant community to their community. One of these was Margaret Hill, a teacher, administrator, and school board member who was considered an icon in her Southern California community.

Margaret was born in Virginia, the daughter of an African American sharecropper. Even as a young child, her life on the farm was busy. Before starting school, she worked in the fields with her father. She got up early every morning, even on weekends, to feed chickens and slop hogs. She picked cotton in the hot sun, even on holidays. In her school years, she studied late into the night, often by candlelight. Margaret said that back then, in the days of segregation and coming out of the Depression, education took a back seat to farm work for most Black children. She said they all had to make a contribution to help keep the family from starving.

But Margaret always knew the value of education. Eventually, she earned her Bachelor’s degree at Norfolk State University and, after relocating to California in 1969, she earned her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from California State University, San Bernardino. Later, the inspirational educator was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California.

Margaret inaugurated her teaching career in 1971 at San Bernardino High School in San Bernardino. Later she served as an Assistant Principal at the school, and then she was promoted to principal of San Andreas High School, a position she held for the last sixteen years of her career. Margaret retired in 2003. But in 2011, Margaret came out of retirement when she was elected to the San Bernardino City Unified Board of Education.

Throughout her career, Margaret earned the admiration of her fellow educators. “She was a North Star for the San Bernardino community reading race relation issues,” remarked colleague Herbert Fischer. He noted that Margaret achieved great success dealing with foster kids, and students suffering from poverty and homelessness. She even earned the nickname “Mother Hill” in the education community.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Margaret served as a member of the Black Culture Foundation and the San Bernardino African American Committee. She also was a member of the Highland Woman’s Club, the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., the San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation, the Time for Change Foundation, the Sheriff’s Department Information Exchange Committee, Kiwanis of Greater San Bernardino, and the San Bernardino Police Department Citizen Advisory Group.

Margaret was also an author. She authored two children’s books. Her first book, It’s All about the Children, was published in 2011. Her second book, From Sharecropping to Non-Stopping: Reflections on Life from A Veteran Educator, was published in 2015. She also penned a weekly column about education for her local newspaper, The Sun.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away in on December 19, 2021. She was 81 years old.