Honoring Lucy Williams: First Black teacher in Omaha public schools

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During Women’s History Month, we applaud Lucy Gamble Williams, who was the first African American teacher to be hired to work in public schools in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo credit: North Omaha History

Many talented women schoolteachers have been applauded during Women’s History Month for their historic firsts. One such teacher is Lucinda (Lucy) Gamble Williams, an elementary school teacher who was the first African American to be hired to work in Omaha public schools.

Lucy was born Lucinda Anneford Gamble on September 9, 1875, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the oldest of eight children of her parents, William and Evaline Gamble. The family moved to Omaha when she was five years old. As an elementary student, Lucy was first enrolled in the Old Dodge School, but later transferred to Pacific School. She graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1893.

Following her graduation from high school, Lucy enrolled in Omaha Normal School, a college which trained future teachers. She completed her two-year course of study there in 1895. “My teacher in the Normal school tried very hard to discourage me from going to the school as she said that I never would secure employment in the school system,” Lucy once recalled. But she must have been a very impressive candidate, because within three months of her graduation, Lucy was offered a position at her former elementary school, the Old Dodge School. With this appointment, Lucy became Omaha’s first African American school teacher. Later Lucy transferred to Cass School.

After six years of teaching, according to the custom of the day, Lucy resigned when she married the Reverend John Albert Williams, the son of a former slave who had escaped to Canada through the Underground Railroad. After the Civil War was won, John immigrated to the United States, landed in Nebraska, and became an activist for the African American community. The couple had one son they named Worthington, and two daughters, Catherine and Dorothy.

Even though she was no longer teaching, Lucy continued to serve her community. For ten years, she was the Chairperson of the the board of the Omaha’s Negro Old People’s Home, and she was a prominent member of the Omaha Colored Women’s Club. In addition, she also served on the board of the Omaha chapter of the NAACP.

Read a transcript of Lucy Gamble Williams’ personal history on file at the Library of Congress at this link: Lucy Gamble Williams.

The intrepid Prudence Crandall: Connecticut’s Female State Hero

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Prudence Crandall

Intrepid teacher Prudence Crandall named Connecticut’s Female State Hero. Photo Credit: Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

There are many courageous teachers who have made great sacrifices for the sake of their students. One of these was Prudence Crandall, a Connecticut teacher who lost everything she owned in order to educate African American girls in a time when doing so was unheard of.

In 1831, Prudence, a Quaker by faith, opened a boarding school for young ladies in Canterbury, Connecticut. By the end of the first year, she had earned the praise of parents, community members, and students throughout New England. Then one day an African American student named Sarah Harris asked to be admitted to the academy. Sarah said she wanted to learn how to be a teacher so she could open her own school for Black students. Prudence knew admitting an African American student would generate some resistance from her neighbors, but after some soul-searching, she decided her conscience and her religious convictions would not allow her to refuse the request. Unfortunately, Prudence had severely under-estimated the resistance she would encounter for this decision.

Figuring the complaint from her detractors was that she was operating an integrated school, the intrepid teacher closed her academy for white girls and re-opened as an academy for “misses of color.” That just made the situation worse. Her action caused ripples all the way up to the US Supreme Court and resulted in Prudence’s brief incarceration in the local jail. After lawless community members set fire to her school, Prudence was forced to close the academy and leave town.

Years later, however, the courageous stance taken by Prudence Crandall resulted in the intrepid teacher being named the Female State Hero for Connecticut. You can read more of the gripping account of what happened with this unflinching educator in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes, now available on amazon.com.

Former NJ teacher Amy Kennedy: Promoter of mental health wellness

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Former middle school teacher Amy Kennedy of New Jersey is a passionate advocate for programs that promote mental health wellness. Photo Credit: New Jersey Globe

There are many fine classroom teachers who also work diligently to promote causes that improve the lives of others. One of these is Amy Kennedy, a middle school teacher from New Jersey who is a passionate advocate for programs that promote mental health wellness.

Amy was born Amy Savell on Nov. 20, 1978, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She is the daughter of two parents who were teachers. Amy was raised in nearby suburbs Pleasantville and Absecon, where she attended Holy Spirit High School. After her graduation in 1997, Amy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University. Later she earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Education fro Nova Southeastern University. Once she earned her degrees, Amy accepted a teaching position with Northfield Community Schools. She taught history at the middle school level for more than a decade.

In 2011, Amy married former US Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy. The wedding took place at the Kennedy family compound in Hyanisport, Massachusetts, in a ceremony officiated by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

After her husband founded the Kennedy Forum, a mental health advocacy group, Amy served the organization as the Education Director. There she works on establishing partnerships and collaborations that emphasize evidence-based research and programming to facilitate policy changes in education and mental health. In addition to her work at the Kennedy Forum, Amy serves on the boards of Mental Health America, a leading national advocacy organization, and Parity.org, which promotes gender equality at the highest levels of business. She is a member to the advisory board of Interaxon, a mental health technology company; Set To Go, a program affiliated with the JED Foundation that helps teenagers transition from high school to college; and Brain Futures, an organization that promotes effective applications of brain science to maximize human potential.

In the 2020 elections, Amy made a bid for a seat in the New Jersey State House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. Her platform focused on mental health issues, education, and the expansion of the Affordable Care Act. Her candidacy was endorsed by former President Barack Obama. Despite this support, Amy’s campaign was unsuccessful.

Currently, Amy lives with her husband and five children in Brigantine, New Jersey.

Congrats to Ethelyn Tumalad, Oregon’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to high school teacher Ethelyn Tumalad of Oregon, who has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: oregonteacheroftheyear.org

Hearty congratulations to Ethelyn Tumalad, a high school educator who has been named Oregon’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Ethelyn teaches Language Arts and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at Clackamas High School in Clackamas, Oregon. She also serves as her school’s advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union, and she participates in her District’s Educator of Color affinity group. She is part of Equity Sparks, a part of the Oregon Education Organization, where she is a champion for equitable causes in Oregon’s education system. Her career as an educator has spanned five years.

Colt Gill, Chief of State Schools, praises the honored teacher. “Ethelyn infuses her classroom with community, belonging and empathy – all critical components for ensuring students feel welcome and safe,” he asserts. Ethelyn’s students agree. In a letter of support, a former student described the exemplary teacher as “hands down one of the best and most thoughtful teachers I have ever had.” The student wrote that Ethelyn sees and treats each student who walks into her classroom like a family member and looks for ways to change their lives for the better. “She is the reason many kids even came to school … and she taught me how to be myself in a world that’s constantly telling me to be something I’m not,” the letter continued.

Perhaps Ethelyn’s emphasis on inclusion stems from the fact that she is a first-generation immigrant from The Philippines. She was only five years old when her family immigrated to the Pacific Northwest. Later, Ethelyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Western Washington University. She earned a Master’s degree in English Literature and a second Master’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from Portland State University.

Congrats, Ethelyn!