Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Arkansas teacher Charlotte Stephens, born into slavery, taught for 70 years

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Charlotte Stephens, pictured here in 1924, taught school in Little Rock, Arkansas, for 70 consecutive years. Photo Credit: Public Domain

There are many inspirational examples of outstanding educators who have devoted their entire lives to the profession. One of these is Arkansas teacher Charlotte Stephens. She  devoted 70 years of her life to the profession of teaching.

Charlotte was born into slavery on May 9, 1854, in Little Rock, Arkansas. As a youngster, she lived in the household of Arkansas Senator Chester Ashley. Once the Civil War was over, Charlotte was educated at a local school established by the Society of Friends under the auspices of the Freedman’s Bureau.

Once she graduated, Charlotte attended Oberlin College. There she studied Latin, geometry, the history of Rome, music, English, and the Bible. In 1873, Charlotte returned to Little Rock to teach. Over the years, she updated her teaching techniques by completing courses at teachers’ colleges, although she never earned a degree.

Charlotte launched her career as an educator at the age of 15. She taught Latin, German, and science courses at the Freedmen’s School she had attended as a young girl. In fact, she was the first African American teacher in the city’s public school system. Later in hr career, she served as the principal of the Capital Hill School, as the librarian of Dunbar High School, and as the Acting Principal of Union High School.

By the time Charlotte retired in 1939 at the age of 85, her career as an educator had spanned 70 consecutive years. At that time, to honor her work, Charlotte was given a Master’s degree from Shorter College in North Little Rock. In 1910, Stephens Elementary School in Little Rock was named after her. The school still operates as a public school to this day.

Sadly, Charlotte passed away on December 17, 1951. She was 97 years old. She is interred at Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock.

 

Former educator LK Atwood served in the Mississippi State Legislature

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Former educator Louis Kossuth (LK)  Atwood also served two terms as a state legislator for the state of Mississippi. (Photo Credit: Mississippi State Legislature.

Many fine classroom teachers also make excellent politicians. One of these was Louis Kossuth (LK) Atwood. In addition to his work as an educator, LK served as a state legislator in the state of Mississippi.

LK was born into slavery in Wilcox County, Alabama, on Dec. 15, 1850. When he was only 18 months old, he was sold at a slave auction. He was purchased for $300 by his own mother, who then took him with her when they relocated to Ohio. As a young boy, LK went to school in Ripley, Ohio. In 1874, he earned his Bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. During these years, he was also ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Once LK earned his degree, he accepted a teaching position in Bolton, Mississippi. Later he studied law and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1879. He then opened his own law practice in Bolton where he specialized in insurance law. In fact, he established precedents before the Mississippi State Legislature several times.

LK was elected on the Republican ticket to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he represented Hinds County for two terms. The first was from 1880 to 1881, and the second was from 1884 to 1885. After he left the legislature, LK appointed to a position as a United States Internal Revenue Service collector where he worked until 1899. In addition, he was named a delegate to attend the Republican National Convention several times.

The former teacher also had experience in the business world. He founded the fraternal insurance company known as the Sons and Daughters of Jacob of America in 1883. He ran this organization until his passing. He also helped establish the  Southern Bank in Jackson and served as its president. He was president of the Mississippi Negro Bankers Association.

Sadly, LK passed away on Jan. 8, 1929, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was 78 years old. He is interred at Mount Olive Cemetery in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

West Virginia educator Mary Doakes was a trailblazer in her community

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West Virginia educator Mary Doakes was a trailblazer in her community. Photo Credit: Eackles-Spencer & Norton

Many excellent educators become trailblazers in their community. One of these was Mary Taylor Doakes, a teacher who became the first African American administrator to serve in schools in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Mary Taylor was born on May 22, 1936, As a youngster, she attended the historic Page-Jackson School, the first publicly funded school for African Americans in the county. In those days, the school symbolized the ability to the Black community as a stepping stone for becoming successful during a time period when educating African Americans was discouraged. Today the building is home to the Jefferson County Board of Education.

After her high school graduation, she worked her way through college. First, she enrolled in a teacher training program at Storer College, a historically Black college located in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. After the college closed in 1955, she transferred to Shepherd College. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in 1957. She next enrolled in Michigan State University, later transferring to West Virginia University. It was there that she earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Administration in 1963.

After completing her education, Mary accepting a position as a teacher at Eagle Avenue Elementary School. After several years, she transferred to her alma mater, Page-Jackson school. In all, she spent 14 years in the classroom. In 1971, Mary was promoted to Assistant Principal at Charles Town Junior High School. In 1974, she became the first African American administrator in Jefferson County. Her next assignment was the principal of Charles Town Junior High, a position she held until she retired in 1989. Throughout her long career as an educator, Mary was known for combining loving encouragement with hard-as-nails discipline.

Sadly, Mary Doakes passed away on May 1, 2019, in Ranson, West Virginia. She was 82 years old. Later she was featured in a collection of photographs published in African Americans of Jefferson County by the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society.

Chalkboard Champion and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune

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Mary McLeod Bethune was a teacher, women’s rights activist, and civil rights leader. Photo Credit: NMAH, Smithsonian Institution

Many fine educators have also made significant contributions to their communities and to society as a whole. One of these is Mary McLeod Bethune, an African American teacher who was was also a women’s rights activist and civil rights leader.

Mary McLeod Bethune was born on July 10, 1875, to former slaves in a log cabin on a plantation in Maysville, South Carolina. Her parents were Samuel and Patsy McLeod. Mary was the last of the couple’s 17 children, and the only one of the McLeod children to be born into freedom.

When the Civil War was won, Mary’s mother worked for her former owner until she could buy the land on which the McLeod family grew cotton. By nine years of age, young Mary could pick 250 pounds of cotton a day.

Even as a young child, Mary showed an unusual interest in books and reading. However, in those days it was rare for African Americans to receive an education. Nevertheless, a charitable organization interested in providing educational opportunities for Black children established a school near Mary’s home. Her parents could scrape together only enough money to pay the tuition for one of their children, and Mary was chosen. The future educator earned a scholarship to attend the Scotia Seminary, a boarding school in North Carolina. She graduated from there in 1894. She also attended Dwight Moody’s Institute for Home and Foreign Missions in Chicago, Illinois. Her studies there spanned two years.

When she grew up, Mary retained her strong desire to extend educational opportunities to other African Americans. She established her career as a teacher. While teaching in South Carolina, she married fellow teacher Albertus Bethune. The union produced one son in 1899.

In 1904 Mary founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls in Daytona Beach, Florida. Starting out with only five students, she helped expand the school to more than 250 students over the next few years. Today, this school is known Bethune-Cookman University.

In her later years, Mary became a close friend of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and also a trusted adviser to President Franklin Roosevelt. In recognition of her outstanding abilities, the President made her a member of his unofficial “Black Cabinet.” He also appointed her the head of the National Youth Administration in 1936. In 1937 the indefatigable educator organized a conference on the Problems of the Negro and Negro Youth, and she fought tirelessly to end discrimination and lynching. In 1940, Mary became the Vice President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons (NAACP), a position she held for the rest of her life. In 1945, she was appointed by President Harry Truman to be the only woman of color present at the founding meeting of the United Nations.

This celebrated educator passed away peacefully on May 18, 1955. For all her accomplishments, Mary McLeod Bethune is truly a Chalkboard Champion. To read more about her, see this link at the website for the National Women’s History Museum.

OK teacher Traci Manuel recognized as her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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English teacher Traci Manuel of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been recognized as her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.  Photo Credit: TulsaKids

I am always excited to share the story of an outstanding educator who has been recognized for their work with young people. One of these is Traci Manuel, an English teacher from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Traci teaches courses in Advanced English to sophomores at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa. She has also taught at Tulsa’s Central High School and Carver Middle School. In addition to the English courses she has taught, Traci has logged experience as the Directory of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determinism) program, an extensive college preparatory program. She also created a summer reading program and learning project and organized a Women of Power class. At the District level, Traci designed a district-level leadership course and curriculum.

Traci takes her role as an influencer of young people very seriously. “An impactful teacher cannot just be strong in their content mastery, but must be skilled in multiple areas,” Traci asserts. “These areas [include] effectiveness in communication, conflict resolution, relationship building, loving and accepting all children, being a team player, detailed planning, organizational skills, [knowing how to be an] emotional stabilizer, and classroom management,” she continues.

Even though she came from a family of educators, Traci’s path to the classroom was not a traditional one. After eating her degree, she accepted a position as a substitute teacher for just one month. Then she went back to school to earn her graduate degree. That done, Traci substituted for another year, then became a teacher’s assistant, and then worked as a parent facilitator before finally accepting a position as a full-time classroom teacher.

In her role as Oklahoma’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year, Traci says her major area of focus will be on narrowing the achievement gap.

Traci earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Philander Smith University. She completed graduate work at the University of Michigan. Her career as an educator has spanned 12 years.

To read an interview with Traci Manuel, click on this link to TulsaKids.