Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Mamie Dillard: Kansas teacher and avid suffragist

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Mamie Dillard: Kansas teacher and avid suffragist.

Many excellent classroom teachers also work tirelessly to improve society as a whole. One of these is Mamie J. Dillard, an African American teacher and suffragist from Kansas.

Mamie was born Mary Jane Dillard in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas, on September 10, 1874. Although her name was Mary Jane, she always preferred to be called Mamie. Her parents, Jesse and Fannie Dillard, were both born in Virginia. Neither of them could read or write. The family moved to Kansas in 1870.  As a young girl, Mamie was an excellent student. She graduated from Lawrence High School with top grades. In fact, she was the only African American in her graduating class.

The future educator earned her Bachelor’s degree from Kansas University in 1896. Once she earned her degree, she launched her career as an educator at the Pinckney Elementary School in Lawrence. One of her most famous students there was famous Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. In 1909, Mamie attended graduate school at the University of Kansas, where she studied English and special education. Once she completed her courses there, she accepted a position as the principal of the Lincoln School, a local segregated elementary school. In addition to her responsibilities at the school, Mamie was appointed delegate to the Negro National Educational Congress in 1916.

All her life, Mamie devoted herself to improving her community. She was an ardent activist for women’s suffrage. She promoted rights and votes for women and civil rights and leadership for the African Americans in her area. She was active in the African American Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She was also a member of the Double Six Club, the Home and Garden Club, and the Sierra Leone Club. In addition, she was a patron of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.  in 1933, of the Self Culture Club, a local organization for African American women. In 1933, Mamie became a member of the Self Culture Club, an organization that promoted education and community building among working mothers.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away in her home town of Lawrence on November 24, 1954. She was 80 years old. She was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence.

To read more about Mamie Dillard, see this article printed online in the Kansaspedia.

Virginia teacher LaToya McGriff inspires with Black History Month lessons

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Although February is over, I want to share just one more story about Black History Month celebrations with you. The story features first grade teacher LaToya McGriff who works at Creekside Elementary School in Suffolk, Virginia.

Every day last month, LaToya dressed up as a different African American trailblazer. Then she shared that individuals important contribution to US history. She started with NASA mathematician Mary Jackson. Mary was profiled in the book and film Hidden Figures, which shared the story of three African American female mathematicians whose efforts helped put men on the moon. LaToya also featured jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, tennis star Arthur Ashe, the first African American man to win the U.S. Open, educator Booker T. Washington, and ballerina Misty Copeland, among others.

LaToya says the practice kept her students curious and asking questions, and she hopes the overall project will give them the confidence to know that, like these important historical figures, they can be great, too!

To learn more, see this short video posted by CBS News on You Tube:

Arkansas educator, public servant, and politician John M. Lewellen

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John M. Lewellen is a science teacher who also served his community as a public servant and as a member of the Arkansas State Legislature.

Many fine educators also make a name for themselves in politics. One of these is John M. Lewellen, a science teacher who also served his community as a public servant and as a member of the Arkansas State Legislature.

John was born in Forest City, St. Francis County, Arkansas, on Sept. 16, 1930. As a youngster, he attended Dansby Elementary School and Lincoln High School in his home town. After his high school graduation, John served a four-year stint in the US Air Force, and is recognized as a Korean War Veteran.

Once he earned his honorable discharge, John enrolled at AM&N, the Agricultural Mining and Normal College located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was the first member of his family to go to college. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1958. Once he earned his degree, John moved to the Altheimer and Hermitage areas, where he accepted a position as a high school teacher. Later he served the school as its principal. “I think his proudest moment was he took five of the outstanding seniors to our alma mater, AM&N, and introduced them to the president and helped them get scholarships,” remembered John’s wife, Wilhelmina Lewellen.

Later, John relocated with his wife and children to Little Rock, Arkansas. There he worked within the state government. He served in positions as a probation officer, a state rehabilitation counselor, and a contractor officer for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His career there spanned 30 years.

In his later life, John decided to pursue a career in public service. He was elected to the Little Rock City Board in 1991, the Pulaski County Quorum Court in 1996, and the Pulaski County Justice of the Peace for District 6. In 1999, John was elected to the Arkansas State House of Representatives, where he served until 2004. He represented the 34th District on the Democratic ticket. During the six years he served in the State House, John co-founded the Democratic Black Caucus, chaired the Children and Youth subcommittee, and worked for growth of businesses owned by minorities and women.

This former educator passed away from a lengthy illness in Little Rock Nov. 25, 2017. He was 87 years old. His remains were interred at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to read his obituary.

Wyoming’s Harriet Byrd: Elementary teacher and politician

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Wyoming’s elementary school teacher Harriet Byrd served in both the state House of Representatives and Senate.

Many dedicated educators have also served as excellent politicians. One of these is Harriet Elizabeth Byrd, an elementary school teacher from Cheyenne, Wyoming. She served in both her state’s House of Representatives and Senate.

Harriet was born on April 20, 1926, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her father was a mechanic for the Union Pacific Railroad, and her mother was a homemaker. As a young girl, Harriet attended Cheyenne High School, where she graduated in 1944. Three years later she married James W. Byrd. The union produced three children.

In 1949, Harriet earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from West Virginia State College, a historically Black college located in Institute, West Virginia. Once she earned her degree, the neophyte teacher returned to Wyoming to apply for a teaching position with the Laramie County School District. Unfortunately, she was denied the position because she was Black.

Fortunately, Harriet was hired as a civilian instructor for the Department of Administrative Services at F. E. Warren air Force Base in Wyoming. She taught there for ten years. In 1959, administrators at Laramie School District changed reversed their earlier stance and gave Harriet a job as an elementary school teacher. She taught in that district for 27 years. In 1976, the veteran educator completed the requirements for her Master’s degree at the University of Wyoming.

In 1980, Harriet was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. There she represented the 44th Assembly District until 1988. She also served in the Wyoming State Senate, representing the 8th Senate District from 1988 to 1992. In fact, the former teacher was the first African American to serve in both houses. While in the legislature, Harriet worked to improve child safety laws, social services programs for adults, and improved conditions for the handicapped. She also worked to create a state holiday to honor Martin Luther King.

Harriet was also active in a number of professional organizations. She was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Education Association, the Wyoming Education Association, the American Legion Auxiliary in Cheyenne, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was a past president of the Search Light Club, the oldest African American women’s club in Wyoming.

This amazing Chalkboard Champion passed away on January 27, 2015, at her home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was 88 years old.

To read more, check out this link about Harriet created by the University of Wyoming.

Immigrant and educator Gail Hudson: Nevada’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school educator Gail Hudson, an immigrant from Belize, named 2020 Nevada State Teacher of the Year.

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Gail Hudson, an elementary teacher from Nevada who has garnered the title of 2020 Nevada State Teacher of the Year.

Gail teaches fifth grade at John R. Hummel Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada. There she serves as the school’s liaison on the Clark County district’s Equity and Diversity Department. As the Las Vegas school’s Title I site coordinator, she has also helped with the schools Title I plan. Title I schools have a high percentage of students living in poverty.

Gail emigrated to the United States from Belize 45 years ago in search of better education opportunities. In interviews, she often recalls that it was her eighth grade teacher that made a difference in her life and contributed to her personal success. Maybe it was because of that teacher’s inspiration that Gail became the first in her family to attend college.

Her career as an educator has spanned 32 years. “They know I am here for them every single day. I wake up to come to them and I want them to wake up to come to me. It is my duty to continue to serve children,” Hudson asserted. “They deserve the best educator possible. They deserve teachers who go above and beyond,” she continued.

Gail earned her Bachelor’s degree in Science Education from Western Illinois University. She earned her Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Loyola University. She earned a second Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from DePaul University. In addition, Gail completed the requirements for a certificate in literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL), and a diploma in Intercultural Relationships from The Intercultural Development Research Institute. She’s also a National Board Certified Teacher.

To read more about this amazing educator, see this link published on the online site of the Las Vegas Review.