Alabama educator Evelyn Anderson championed rights for the mobility-impaired

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Alabama teacher, school counselor, and paraplegic Evelyn Anderson was a Chalkboard Champion for the mobility-impaired. Photo Credit: the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.

It is always an inspiration to read stories about individuals who have overcome challenges to achieve success in their life. One of these is Evelyn Anderson, a classroom teacher and paraplegic from Alabama who championed the rights of the mobility-impaired.

Evelyn was born on Aug. 2, 1926, in Greensboro, Alabama. She was only four years old when she was hit by a stray .22 caliber bullet, and the incident left her spine severed. For the rest of her life, she was confined to a wheelchair or a gurney. On this “rolling table” she would lie prone, with her lower body covered, propped up on an elbow. Despite her challenges, Evelyn graduated with honors from Judson College, with a double major in Art and History.

After she earned her degree, Evelyn began teaching art at Greensboro High School in 1948. In the beginning, her employment was unofficial because Alabama law prohibited severely handicapped individuals from working as teachers. However, due to Evelyn’s inspiration, legislation to repeal the discriminatory law was enacted in 1953. The following year, the trailblazing educator became the first severely handicapped teacher hired by Alabama public schools. In addition to this victory, she inspired the city of Greensboro to provide accommodations for mobility-impaired individuals, even before required by law.

After teaching for a few years, Evelyn returned to college and in 1964 earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Alabama. She then taught English and Spanish and served as a guidance counselor at Greensboro High School.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Evelyn worked to make major contributions to her community. 1977, she served on the Alabama Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. She was also a founding member of the Greensboro Friends of the Library.

Throughout her life, Evelyn earned many accolades for her work as an educator. In 1974, she was named an Outstanding Educator, and the following year, she was honored as the Outstanding Counselor of the Year. In 1977, she was recognized as the Alabama Handicapped Professional Woman of the Year.

After a career that spanned over 30 years, both official and unofficial, Evelyn retired in 1982. In 1976, Alabama Educational Television aired a short documentary film about her life as an educator and champion for disabled children. In 2011, she was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.

Evelyn Anderson passed away on Oct. 7, 1998, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, following a brief illness. She was 72 years old. You can read more about this Chalkboard Champion at Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.

 

White House History Association offers unique professional development opportunities

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Social Studies teachers, have you heard about the White House History Teacher Institute sponsored by the White House History Association (WHHA)? This is a professional development opportunity you might want to explore for yourself.

The White House Historical Association is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with a mission to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the rich history of America’s Executive Mansion. The organization funds the acquisition—and protection of—historically significant artwork, furniture, china, and other household items for the White House’s permanent collection. To learn more about the organization, click on this link: WHHA.

Through their summer Institute, which just concluded its tenth year, the WHHA sponsors two consecutive weeks of the White House History Teacher Institute and three days of the Three Branches institute. These programs are held with the cooperation of the United States Capitol Historical Society and the Supreme Court Historical Society. Through these programs, participating teachers deepen their knowledge of United States history and civics and perspectives, hone their existing teaching strategies, and learn new instructional methods. The educators visit multiple historical sites, including a private, curator-led tour of the White House. In the summer of 2025, a total of 79 K-12 educators from all over the country participated.

The WHHA plans to hold the White House History Teacher Institute again in the summer of 2026. This summer, plans are in the works to expand the Three Branches Institute. Both of the programs, which are application-based, are open to educators from across the country. Applications for both programs will open in early 2026.

To learn more, visit this website: whitehousehistory.org/rubenstein-center/k-12-education-resources-and-programs/professional-development-programs

 

Felmon Motley: Teacher, Civil Rights activist, and stellar athlete

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Educator, veteran, Civil Rights activist, and stellar athlete Felmon Motley.  Photo Credit: Find a Grave

Many excellent educators are also known for their careers as stellar athletes. One of these was Felmon Motley, a successful football player who was inducted into the Delaware Hall of Fame. He was also a veteran and an activist during the Civil Rights Movement.

Felmon was born on March 18, 1921, in Autaugaville, Alabama. He was raised in Anniston, where he attended Cobb High School. However, in his senior year, he moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he graduated from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in 1940.

After his graduation in 1940, Felmon enrolled in Alabama A&M University, where he played for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs as both a lineman and a fullback. In 1942, Felmon transferred to Delaware State College, where he played for the school’s Hornets.

During World War II, Felmon served his country from 1943 to 1945, playing on a military service team at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. While on this team, he played in the 1945 Copper Bowl, scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game.

In 1946, Felmon returned to Delaware, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1947. He earned a Master’s degree from there in 1952. After earning his degrees, Felmon accepted a position as an industrial arts teacher at Seaford High. There he became the school’s first African American staff member. In all, his career as a teacher and guidance counselor spanned 37 years in public schools in Seaford, Dover, and Wilmington. He retired in 1984.

During the 1960’s, the former football player became an activist in the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King and the Rev. Jesse Jackson in Selma, Montgomery, and the 1963 March on Washington.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Felmon served was the President of the Delaware State Alumni Association from 1963 to 1967. He was a life member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, serving the organization at the national, district and local levels. He was also a 32nd degree Mason.

For his lifelong achievements, Felmon was one of the first inductees into Delaware State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also inducted into the State of Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and was one of the first inductees the Delaware State University Alumni Hall of Fame.

This Chalkboard Champion, veteran, Civil Rights activist, and stellar athlete passed away on Aug. 28, 2004, in Milford, Delaware. He was 83 years old. He is interred in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear, Delaware.

Ruby Cole of Texas: One of the founders of the DKG

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Chalkboard Champion Ruby Cole, one of the original founders of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. (Photo credit: DKG)

In 1929, a group of accomplished women educators in Texas got together to create an organization to advance the interests of women teachers. These women, who came from all over the state of Texas, formed the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an organization for women teachers to work towards improving professional preparation, recognizing women’s work in the teaching profession, and providing scholarships for those needing assistance in advancing their professional expertise. One of these founding women was Ruby Cole.

Not much is known about Ruby’s early life. She was born on December 2, 1885. As a young woman, she enrolled at Sam Houston Institute in Huntsville, Texas. In her sophomore year of college she transferred to Washington College. She completed the requirements for her teaching degree at Southwest Texas State Normal College. In her later years she completed graduate study at the College of the Incarnate Word and at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas.

Early in her career as an educator, Ruby was active in the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and various women’s clubs. She was a member of the Teachers Retirement Committee of the Texas State Teachers Association, and she served as the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee of Elementary Principals. Because she had earned an excellent reputation in her community, she was invited to be one of the original founders of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society (DKG).

Ruby was very active in Delta Kappa Gamma’s national committees. She served as a member of the Constitution Committee from 1929 to 1930. She also served as  the Chairperson of the Nominations Committee and was a member of the Membership Committee from 1930 to 1931. In addition, Ruby was a member of the Initiation Committee from 1932 to 1935, and she was part of the Legislation Committee from 1936-1938. She also devoted much of her energy to the Retirement Fund for Teachers.

Sadly, this chalkboard champion suffered a heart attack and passed away on November 20, 1940.

To read more about Ruby Cole, click on this link: DKG Founders.