Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Teacher and African American Folklorist Daryl Cumber Dance

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Daryl Cumber Dance

Former English teacher and celebrated African American folklorist Daryl Cumber Dance

I always enjoy sharing stories about talented educators who have accomplished impressive successes in their field. One of these is Daryl Cumber Dance, a former high school English teacher who is best known for her work in African American folklore studies.

Daryl Veronica Cumber Dance was born on January 17, 1938, in Richmond, Virginia. Her father, Allen Cumber, was a joiner and entrepreneur, and her mother, Veronica Bell Cumber, was an elementary school teacher.

As a young girl, Daryl attended Ruthville High School in Ruthville, Virginia. After her high school graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Virginia State College in1957. She earned her Master’s degree in English in 1963, and in 1971 she earned her Doctorate in English.

After earning her undergraduate degree, Daryl accepted a teaching position at Armstrong High School in Richmond, where she worked until 1962. At that time, she became a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she taught from 1972 to 1993. In 1993, she joined the faculty of the University of Richmond, and in 2013, she accepted a position at historical Black Howard University.

Daryl is best-known for her work in African American folklore studies. In this field, she has authored nine books and contributed to many others, including Shuckin’ and Jivin’: Folklore from Contemporary Black Americans (1978); Fifty Caribbean Writers: A Bio-Bibliographical and Critical Sourcebook (1986); Honey, Hush! An Anthology of African American Women’s Humor (1998); and From My People: 400 Years of African American Folklore (2002).

For her work as a folklorist, Daryl has garnered many honors. Among these are the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education’s Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award; the Sister Circle Book Award for Outstanding Anthology; the Zora Neale Hurston Award from the National Association of Black Storytellers Annual Conference; and The Sojourner Truth Award from The African American Studies Program of George Mason University.

Daryl Cumber Dance: a true chalkboard champion.

Tennessee school teacher and politician William Feilds

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Williams Feilds

Tennessee teacher and politician William Feilds

Often talented educators also become accomplished politicians. Such is the case with Tennessee school teacher William A. Feilds.

William A. Feilds was born into slavery near Fisherville in the county of Shelby located in west Tennessee in circa 1846. Although many records spell his surname as “Field” or “Fields,” William himself seems generally to have used the “e-i” combination, normally adding a final “s.”

Through years of hard work and close application to study, William earned his teaching certificate which qualified him to teach in the public schools. He started his career as a classroom teacher, and by 1883, he had become the principal of Shelby County’s 5th District school, at that time located on Waldran Avenue just beyond the Memphis city limits, not far from where Memphis Central High School stands today.

In addition to his career as a schoolteacher and principal, William served one term in the Tennessee House of Representatives as a member of the Republican party. He served from 1885-1886. During his years of service in the legislature, William was particularly interested in efforts to educate Black children and to give African Americans greater control over the schools in their communities. He urged passage of his bill, HB 119, which would require parents and guardians to enroll children aged 7-16 in school for 120 days per year. After he left the legislature, William was also elected a member of the Shelby County County Court, a legislative body, and he served as a justice of the peace.

On December 29, 1874, William A. Feilds married Elizabeth Feilds. The couple had three children: Mary, Cyrus William, and Stella. He is also purported to be the great-great-grandfather of actress and recording artist Vanessa Williams.

This remarkable chalkboard champion passed away on September 9, 1898.

Singer Conya Doss: This Queen of Indie Soul teaches special needs children

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Conya Doss

Singer Conya Doss: This Queen of Indie Soul teaches special needs children.

Gifted teachers often find unique ways to connect with their students or convey their curriculum in their classrooms. One teacher who is notable for doing this is Conya Doss, a junior high school teacher from Cleveland, Ohio, who is also well-known as an innovative Indie musician and songstress.

Conya was born on June 13, 1972. As a youngster, she attended the Cleveland School of the Arts. This specialized school offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning and academics which integrates the arts into the curriculum. The institution is recognized for its exceptionally high rate of graduation, and for an unusually large number of graduates going their education in institutions of higher learning. “It’s phenomenal to have a school like that, especially for kids,” Conya once said. “It’s definitely good to have a school where kids can channel their creativity where it needs to be channeled.”

After Conya earned her college degree and teaching credential, she accepted a position as a teacher of children with special needs in the Cleveland Public School system. She started using music in her classroom as a way to connect with her students. “I may have them do what I call a copy tune, where they listen to a song, like, as an example, R. Kelly’s I Believe I Can Fly, and then they have to take the title and do creative writing,” she once explained. “It could be a poem or it could be a picture that’s related to that title,” she continued. “I just try to think of innovative ways to keep them motivated. And sometimes I have to stick to traditional teaching, versus progressive,” she concluded.

As a singer, Conya prefers Rhythm and Blues, Funk, and Neo-Soul. In fact, she is known as the Queen of Indie Soul. She inaugurated her career as a professional musician in 2000. Her first album, entitled “A Poem About Ms. Doss,” was released in 2002. The album was inspired by a heartfelt letter she received from one of her young students. Her debut album was quickly followed by two more: “Just Because,” released in 2004, and “Love Rain Down,” released in 2006. Her breakthrough album, entitled “Still,” was released in 2008. In 2010, Conya released her fifth album, “Blu Transition,” which was followed by “A Pocketful of Purpose” in 2012. Conya released her seventh album, “Seven: VII,” in 2015.

Conya’s skills as a singer and musician have earned honors and recognition. In 2007 she was named the Best Female Vocalist at the Ohio Hip Hop Awards, and in 2008 she garnered the Female Vocalist of the Year Award from Soultracks Readers’ Choice.

In addition to teaching and her career in music, Conya is involved in mentoring teenage girls, she tutors, and she is an active philanthropist for breast cancer, AIDS awareness, and mental health issues.

Honoring teacher and New Jersey US Congressman Donald Payne, Sr.

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Donald Payne

High school teacher and former US Representative Donald Payne, Sr.

In American history, there are many examples of successful educators who later became noteworthy politicians. One of these is Donald Payne, a former teacher who was elected as the first African American to represent New Jersey in the US House of Representatives.

Donald Milford Payne, Sr., was born in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on July 16, 1934. Following his graduation from Newark’s Barringer High School in 1952, Donald enrolled on a scholarship in Seton Hall University in South Orange, new Jersey. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies in 1957. Later he pursued post-graduate studies at Springfield College in Massachusetts.

After his college graduation, Donald taught English and Social Studies in Newark Public Schools. He also coached football. While still a teacher, Donald became the first African American president of the National Council of YMCA. From 1973 t 1981, he served as the chairman of the World YMCA Refugee and Rehabilitation Committee.

After leaving the classroom, Donald worked for a time as an executive for the Prudential Insurance Company. He also served three terms as a Municipal City Councilman, but he had always wanted to become a Congressman. In 1988 he finally achieved that goal when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent New Jersey’s Tenth District. “I want to be a congressman to serve as a model for the young people I talk to on the Newark street corners,” Donald said during his campaign. “I want them to see there are no barriers to achievement. I want to give them a reason to try.”

While in Congress, the former teacher served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, including the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. In addition, he was a part of the Committee on Government Operations and on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, including the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. From 1995 to 1997, he was the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was elected to Congress a total of eleven times, and some of his wins were by the widest margins in New Jersey history.

In his later years, Donald suffered from diabetes and he experienced several small strokes, but it was colon cancer that finally claimed his life on March 6, 2012. He was 77 years old. Donald Payne: a true chalkboard champion.