Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Ohio’s Hazel Mountain Walker; Educator and pioneer lawyer

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Ohio teacher Hazel Mountain Walker was one of the first African American women to pass the bar in her state.

Many fine educators also earn acclaim in fields outside of the classroom. One of these is Hazel Mountain Walker, a teacher from Ohio who was among the first African American women to pass the bar in her state. She was also an activist for racial integration in her city.

Hazel was born on February 16, 1889, in Warren, Ohio. As a young woman, she graduated from Cleveland Normal Training School. After her graduation, she inaugurated her career by accepting her first teaching job at Mayflower Elementary School in 1909. She taught elementary school for a total of 27 years, from 1909 to 1936. During those years, the experienced educator earned a law degree from the Baldwin Wallace College in 1919. The same year, she was admitted to the bar in the state of Ohio. Instead of practicing as an attorney, she decide to provide educational services to the juvenile courts.

Later, Hazel earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1939 and her Master’s degree in Education in 1941, both from Western Reserve University. Even after earning her law degree, she continued to her work in fields related to education, including serving as the principal for a number of elementary schools.

Throughout her lengthy professional life, Hazel was a sought-after speaker on race relations in her city. She was appointed to the Cleveland Womanpower Committee to advise on the integration of African American women into the war-time work force. In 1960, she was honored by the Urban League of Greater Cleveland for serving as an officer for its forerunner, the Negro Welfare League. Hazel was also active in the Cuyahoga County Republican Party, the Women’s City Club, and at Karamu House, an organization that worked, in part, to achieve racial integration. In fact, Karamu House inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2007 to honor her for 25 years of service on its board.

Hazel Mountain Walker retired from the teaching profession in 1958. After her retirement, she served two years on the Ohio State Board of Education. This Chalkboard Champion passed away on May 16, 1980, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was 91 years old. To read more about this amazing educator and activist, see her biography at the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

Alejandro Diasgranados: National Teacher of the Year finalist

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Alejandro Diasgranados, an elementary teacher from Washington, DC, has been named one of four finalists for the 2021 National Teacher of the Year award. Photo credit: Alejandro Diasgranados.

Congratulations are due to Alejandro Diasgranados, an elementary teacher from Washington, DC. He has been named one of four finalists for the 2021 National Teacher of the Year award.

Alejandro grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He graduated from High Point High School, a public high school located in Beltsville, Maryland. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health Science at Virginia State University. While there, he played football. Once he earned his undergraduate degree, Alejandro briefly enrolled in a program specializing in physical therapy in Springfield, Massachusetts. Next, he worked as a substitute teacher in nearby Holyoke. That’s when he discovered his passion for teaching.

In 2015, Alejandro signed up for the Teach for America (TFA) program. He was placed at Aiton Elementary School in DC’s Ward 7. By 2018, the honored educator earned his Master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University. When he walked, all 40 of his students raised the money to attend the graduation ceremony.

Alejandro’s achievements in his relatively short career have already been numerous. As an alumnus of TFA and a teacher-leader, Alejandro garnered a $10,000 grant from the Washington Football Team to establish a laundry center at his school. He also organized a coat drive at Aiton in cooperation with the Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals Devante Smith-Pelly. Most recently, Alejandro’s appearance on the Drew Barrymore Show resulted in a gift of 265 new laptops for his school to help close the digital divide during COVID-19.

Currently, Alejandro teaches English Language Arts and Social Studies to fourth and fifth graders. His curriculum empowers his students to act as agents of change, and he strives to inspire them to advocate not only for themselves, but also for others. In one project, his students hoped to challenge inequity of opportunity by creating and distributing pamphlets that explained how educational inequity impacts their community. They also wrote letters to DC leaders, including Mayor Bowser, Council member David Grosso, and Chancellor Ferebee.

In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Alejandro serves as a Cultivation Ambassador for Teacher Recruitment and on the Selection Team for DC Public Schools. He is a 2020-2021 Live it, Learn it Experiential Learning Fellow, and served as an Experiential Learning Leadership Pathway Facilitator for Teach For America (TFA) in 2019-2020. This Chalkboard Champion also served as a teacher mentor for the University of the District of Columbia during the 2019-2020 school year, and as a summer school coordinator for DC Public Schools.

To learn more about Alejandro Diasgranados, see this story about him published by DC.gov and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

New York’s Kay Toliver creates dynamic math programs

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New York educator Kay Toliver  creates innovative and dynamic mathematics programs. Photo credit: The Futures Channel.

Many chalkboard champions have been recognized nationally for creating innovative and dynamic programs in their subject area. One such educator in Kay Toliver of New York City.

Kay was born and raised in East Harlem and the South Bronx. As a youngster, she attended Harriet Beecher Stowe Junior High, Walton High School, and Hunter College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1967 and her Master’s degree in 1971. Additionally, Kay completed graduate work in mathematics at the City College of New York.

For more than 30 years, Kay taught mathematics and communication arts at P.S. 72/East Harlem Tech in Community School District 4. Prior to instructing seventh and eighth grade students, she taught grades one through six for 15 years. “Becoming a teacher was the fulfillment of a childhood dream,” the dedicated educator once said. “My parents always stressed that education was the key to a better life. By becoming a teacher, I hoped to inspire African-American and Hispanic youths to realize their own dreams. I wanted to give something back to the communities I grew up in,” she continued.

At East Harlem Tech, with the support of her principal, Kay established the Challenger program for grades 4-8. The program presents the basics of geometry and algebra within an integrated curriculum. Although the program was designed for gifted students; because of her strong belief that all students can learn, she accepted pupils from all ability levels.

Challenger offers events that are similar to science fairs but involve students in creating and displaying projects related to mathematics. Participants had to be able to explain the mathematical theories and concepts behind their projects, which were placed on display at the school so that students from the lower grades could examine the older students’ research. Students have created mathematics games such as Dunking for Prime Numbers, Fishing for Palindromes, and Black Jack Geometry.

Kay also developed a lesson called the Math Trail to give students an appreciation for the community as well as an opportunity to see mathematics at work. To create a Math Trail, the class must first do some research on the history of the community. Then, they are instructed to plot a course, starting from the school building, that leads the class through the community and back to school, with stops along the way to visit several sites and create math problems about various real-life situations.

To show teachers throughout the country how she creates enthusiasm for mathematics among her students, Kay has worked with the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education (FASE) to create a number of educational video products. Most recently, she has worked with The Futures Channel to present staff development institutes and parent engagement events at schools and districts throughout the country. Most recently, Kay has worked with The Futures Channel to present staff development institutes and parent engagement events at schools and districts throughout the country.

For her efforts, Kay has earned many awards, including the Reliance Award for Excellence in Education, Middle School; Outstanding Teacher for Mathematics Instruction, Disney American Teacher Award; the Kilby Award; and the Essence Award.

To learn more about Chalkboard Champion Kay Toliver, see this link to her page at The Futures Channel.

Educator, Civil Rights activist Ida B. Kinney honored by NAACP

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California educator Ida B. Kinney and other Civil Rights activists were honored by the NAACP with stamps issued by the US Postal Service. Photo credit: US Postal Service.

Throughout our country’s history, there are many examples of classroom teachers who have also worked tirelessly for the Civil Rights of African Americans. One of these is Ida B. Kinney, a 20th-century educator from Southern California, who was among those who were honored by the NAACP with special stamps issued by the US Postal Service.

Ida was born on May 25, 1904, in Lafayette County, Arkansas. She was raised by her grandparents, who were former slaves. In 1920, when Ida was only 16 years old, she moved to California, where she lived with her mother in Santa Monica. Following her graduation from Santa Monica High School, young Ida returned to Arkansas where she attended Philander Smith College. After one year, she returned to California, where she enrolled in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It was there she met and married Carl Minion. The couple settled in the San Fernando Valley in 1940, where Ida completed the requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at San Fernando Valley State College. The institution is now known as Cal State Northridge.

Because she was an African American, Ida’s application for her teaching credential was denied. She sent a petition to then California Governor Pat Brown, who ordered a credential be issued to her. She received the coveted document within ten days. Ida inaugurated her career as an educator as a substitute in Kern County. Later she worked in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Ida became dedicated to improving conditions for African Americans. She was influential in securing access to medical treatment for Black women which had been denied them by a hospital in Van Nuys. She inaugurated a local Head Start program for children. She also worked tirelessly to secure the rights for Black workers to join the union at Lockheed Aerospace. During the remainder of her life, she joined such Civil Rights giants as Medger Evers, Rosa Parks, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to participate in marches, protests, and other activist practices.

After her retirement from the classroom, Ida was appointed to the Commission on Aging for the County of Los Angeles. She served in this position for 12 years. She was also instrumental in establishing a senior center in Pacoima, California. The facility opened in 1971. In addition, Ida played a key role in creating the Pacoima Boys & Girls Club.

On her 100th birthday, Ida B. Kinney was honored with other Civil Rights activists for her work in securing rights for African Americans. When she passed away from natural causes in Lake View Terrace, California, on Jan. 1, 2009, she was 104 years old. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this obituary published by the Los Angeles Times.

 

Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbs to Covid-19

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Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 19, 2021. She passed away just one day after her husband of 33 years. Photo credit: IndyStar

With great sadness we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Ann Grissom-Wilkins, a public school teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 9, 2021. She was just 59 years old.

Ann was born in 1961 in Detroit, Michigan. As a young girl, she attended Cass Technical High School in her home city. After her high school graduation in 1979, she attended Butler University, a private university located in Indianapolis.

The fallen educator had taught for 13 years in Indiana Public Schools. During those years, she also worked for local teachers’ unions, the Indiana State Teachers Association and for the Indiana Education Association.

According to family and friends, Ann was always promoting public school education. “She (was) deeply committed to her profession and her fellow educators,” recalled Indianpolis Public Schools Superintendent Alessia Johnson. “I think what she did well was holding everyone to account, because at the end of the day, her goal was kids were getting served as well.”

Since last March, the couple tried to do everything they could not to get sick. Family members said the couple were very careful because Ronald was a diabetic and Ann had recently completed radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Despite all their precautions, both became ill and were hospitalized with a diagnosis of Covid-19. Ronald passed away on Jan. 8, and Ann succumbed one day later. Heartbroken family members note that Ann and Ronald had met as youngsters, while both were students at Indianapolis Public School #43. The couple had been married for 33 years, and they had three children.

To read more about this hardworking and dedicated teacher, see her story published by WRTV Indianapolis.