Tag Archives: Foreign Language Teachers

Fannie Coppin: Teacher, principal, community activist, columnist, and missionary

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Fannie Coppin, born into slavery, eventually became a highly successful teacher, principal, community activist, columnist, and missionary. Photo credit: Public Domain

This February, during Black History Month, we are honoring exemplary African American educators in our nation’s history. Today, we shine a spotlight on Fanny Coppin, an outstanding educator from Washington, DC.

Fanny was born on October 15, 1837, the daughter of slaves. When she was 12 years old, her aunt purchased her freedom for $125. She moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where she worked as a servant for the author George Henry Calvert. During these years, she used some of her earnings to hire a private tutor to teach her for three hours each week.

In 1860, the same year the Civil War erupted, Fanny enrolled at Oberlin College in Ohio. Oberlin was the first college in the United States to accept both Black and female students. At first, Fanny enrolled in the “ladies’ course,” but the next year, she switched to the more rigorous “gentlemen’s course.” As the Civil War years came to an end, Fanny founded a night school in Oberlin where she educated newly-freed enslaved people.

Once she earned her degree in 1865, this enterprising young educator accepted a position as a high school teacher at the Institute for Colored Youth (ICY) in Philadelphia. There she taught courses in Greek, Latin, and mathematics. Within a year she was promoted to principal of the Ladies Department. By 1869 Fanny had become principal of the entire institute, making her the first African American woman to wear the title of school principal. She held this position until 1906. In all, she invested 37 years of her life at the school.

In addition to her work at ICY, Fanny founded homes for working and poor women. She also published columns defending the rights of women and African Americans in local Philadelphia newspapers. Throughout her life, she was politically active and frequently spoke at political rallies.

In 1881 Fanny married the Rev. Levi Jenkins Coppin, and in 1902 the couple traveled to South Africa where they founded the Bethel Institute, a missionary school which emphasized self-help programs.

Fannie Coppin passed away on January 21, 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was 76 years old. In 1926, a teacher training school in Baltimore, Maryland, was named the Fanny Jackson Coppin Normal School in her memory. Today, this school is known as Coppin State University.

Lavinia Norman: One of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority

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World Languages educator Lavinia Norman of West Virginia was one of the original founders of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Photo credit: Public Domain

Many dedicated educators have devoted their entire professional lives to the classroom. One such educator is Lavinia Norman, a high school World Languages teacher from West Virginia who is also known as one of the original founders of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Lavinia was born on December 14, 1882, in Montgomery, Fayette County, West Virginia. She was the eighth of sixteen children in the family of Thomas and Virginia Norman. Young Lavinia spent her early years in elementary schools in West Virginia, but when her father found employment with the US Postal Service, the family moved to Washington, DC.

In 1901, Lavinia enrolled in preparatory school at Howard University, a traditionally Black college located in our nation’s capital. At the time, there were very few women enrolled at Howard. While at Howard, Lavinia became one of the 16 original founding members of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The young scholar graduated cum laude in 1905 with a degree in English and French. Later, she returned to college to earn a second Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State College, another historically Black university located in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1934.

After her graduation, Lavinia accepted a position as a teacher at Douglass High School in Huntington, West Virginia, where she worked her entire professional career. During her tenure, she taught English, French, and Latin. She also served as her high school’s drama coach and the adviser of the school newspaper. In 1950, this Chalkboard Champion retired after a distinguished career of 40 years in education. 

Lavinia passed away in Washington, DC, on January 22, 1983, at the age of 100. To learn more about this amazing educator, click on this link, Virginia Commonwealth University, or the website for Alpha Kappa Alpha.

NYC Fantina Cruz Roll has been honored with 2024 Big Apple Award

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Spanish language teacher Fantina Cruz Roll has earned a 2024 Big Apple Award from the New York City Public Schools. Photo credit: Fantina Roll

New York Spanish language  teacher Fantina Cruz Roll has been honored with a 2024 Big Apple Award from the New York City Public Schools. The Big Apple Awards is an annual program that recognizes and celebrates New York City teachers who inspire students, model great teaching, and enrich their school communities.

Fantina teaches Spanish-language courses at Albert Shanker School for Visual Arts in Queens. Her journey as a professional educator began when she was hired as a paraprofessional in District 75. She worked in that position for three years, gaining valuable experience working with students with diverse learning needs. Later she enrolled at Hunter College, taking courses until she earned her Master’s degree in Education. Then she inaugurated her career as a Spanish language teacher, a career that has spanned 18 years.

In 2010, Fantina inaugurated the Multicultural Festival at her school. Today, this event has evolved into the most significant cultural event within her school community and in District 30.  The festival underscores her commitment to creating inclusive environments where every culture is valued and respected.

As the Multicultural and Wellness Committee Coordinator on her campus, Fantina prioritizes building strong connections with families, the community, and the school. These roles have allowed her to cultivate a welcoming, inclusive environment that promotes wellness and celebrates diversity. Her vision as an educator is to prepare students for life by helping them embrace their strengths and work on their weaknesses with a positive mindset. Furthermore, to foster leadership skills, Fantina provides opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning, create lessons, and teach one another.

Congratulations, Fantina!

Ruby Terrill Lomax: A founder of Delta Kappa Gamma

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Texas educator Ruby Terrill Lomax: One of the founders of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society (DKG). Photo Credit: DKG

Throughout history, there have been many superb educators that have served in Texas public schools. Many of these have even become the teachers of teachers. Among these is Ruby Terrill Lomax, a high school Latin teacher from Dallas.

Ruby was born in 1886 and raised in Denton, Denton County, Texas. As a young woman, she earned her high school diploma at North Texas Normal College. In 1905, she completed the requirements for an Associate’s degree at John B. Denton College, and in 1906 she earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas.

Once she earned her Bachelor’s, Ruby accepted a position as a teacher of Latin at Dallas High School. While teaching in Dallas, Ruby spent four of her summers furthering her education at the University of Chicago. The other two summers she spent completing courses in Latin and Greek at Columbia University in New York.

Ruby’s work as an educator at Dallas High was so highly prized that in 1924 she garnered a Latin fellowship to the University of Texas, Austin. In 1918, she was offered a faculty position at East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce. There she taught Latin and served as the Dean of Women.

Ruby completed the coursework for her Master’s degree in 1925. That year, she accepted a position as the Dean of Woman and Associate Professor of Classical Languages at the University of Texas. She held that position until 1937. During her years at the University of Texas, Ruby met and married the well-known folklorist John A. Lomax.

In 1929, Ruby was one of 12 educators who founded the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society (DKG). By long-standing custom, the women were prohibited by from meeting together professionally, yet they believed there was a pressing need for an organization in which women educators could assist each other in their efforts towards becoming better teachers. They extended membership in the organization to rural and urban teachers; preschool, elementary, high school, college, and university teachers; librarians; and school administrators. DKG members worked to better professional preparation, to recognize women’s work in the teaching profession, and to fund scholarships to those who needed support to improve their professional skills.

Ruby served the organization as its Parliamentarian, a National First Vice President, and its Keeper of the Records. She also served on numerous national committees, including Constitution (1929-1930), Membership (1933-1937), Initiation (1933-1934) Letters and Publications (1940-1942), Nominations (1941-1942), Awards (1946-1952), and Teacher Welfare and Morale (1954-1956). She represented the Founders on the National Planning Committee from 1946-1950.

This amazing chalkboard champion passed away on December 28, 1961. She was 75 years old. She is interred at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas.

To read more about Ruby, click on this link at the DKG website: Ruby Terrill Lomax.

Remembering foreign languages teacher Barbara Edwards, who perished in Sept. 11 attacks

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Remembering foreign language educator Barbara Edwards, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo Credit:

Today, on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, we solemnly remember all who perished 23 years ago. One of those was foreign languages educator Barbara Edwards from Las Vegas, Nevada. She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. All 64 people on board and 125 others who were inside the building at the time perished.

Barbara taught courses in German and French at Palo Verde High School, where she had worked for four years. There Barbara built her German language program from one class to six. She also served as the adviser to the school’s International Club, and she was a passionate advocate for foreign travel. Prior to teaching in Las Vegas, she taught school in Indiana.

At the time of her death, Barbara was on leave from school, recovering from injuries sustained in a previous car accident. She had been traveling to Connecticut and Virginia to visit family and attend a friend’s wedding. She was aboard the plane for her return to Las Vegas.

Every year, students and staff at Palo Verde High School remember their beloved teacher in a solemn ceremony on campus. Members of Palo Verde’s Junior ROTC officiate the ceremony at a memorial built for the fallen educator on the soccer field. Barbara was an avid soccer fan, and spent many after-school hours watching the school team play their games on that field. In addition, a scholarship for foreign language students has been established in her honor.

To fellow teacher Patti Habermas, the outpouring of grief and support from students that followed Barbara’s death demonstrate that the things she does as a teacher really do matter. “I guess I never realized that as a teacher, I really do affect students’ lives,” observed Habermas. “It never dawned on me. I now look at every school year as a treat, and hope I’ll be able to make a difference on students,” Habermas concluded.

Barbara was born on April 5, 1948, in Frankfort, Germany. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to Michigan. In high school, she was a cheerleader and the runner-up for homecoming queen. Once she graduated from high school, Barbara earned her college degree at West Michigan University. She married, became the mother of three children, and launched her career as an educator in Bloomington, Indiana. Later she accepted the teaching position in Las Vegas. She was 58 years old when she died.