Tag Archives: Pioneer 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.

New Jersey’s Ethel De Long Zande founder of settlement schools

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New Jersey English teacher Ethel De Long Zande helped establish a settlement school in rural Appalachia to educate mountain children. She is seen here with a mountain dulcimer. Photo credit: Pine Mountain Settlement House Collections.

Throughout American history, many fine educators have worked tirelessly to advance the cause of progressive education. One of these was Ethel De Long Zande, a teacher from New Jersey who helped establish a settlement school in rural Appalachia in the early 20th century. The school was established to educate mountain children.

Ethel was born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1879. When she was young, her father and younger sister were disabled, and Ethel became their caregiver. As a teenager, her family moved to Northampton, New Jersey, and Ethel enrolled at nearby Smith College, where she attended from 1897 to 1901. She earned her Bachelor’s degree there. During her college years, she worked as a tutor and a teacher at Easthampton High School.

Once she earned her degrees, Ethel worked as a teacher at Central High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her career there spanned five years. In 1905, she relocated to Indianapolis, where she taught English at Manual Training High School for five years. It was then that Ethel was appointed principal of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union Settlement School in Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky. The school was later known as the Hindman Settlement School. In 1912, Ethel became one of the founding members of the Pine Mountain Settlement School located in rural Harlan County, Kentucky. There she established a reputation for creating especially stimulating lessons, asking her students to write and read letters, and to engage in lively conversation, discussion, and debate.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this biography about her printed in Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections.

Mary Allen West of Illinois: Educator, pioneer, and journalist

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Mary Allen West of Illinois worked tirelessly as an educator, journalist, author, and temperance worker. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many talented educators serve as pioneers in fields both within and outside of the education community. One of these was Mary Allen West, an Illinois teacher who worked tirelessly as a journalist, author, and temperance worker.

Mary was born on July 13, 1837, in Galesburg, Illinois. Her parents were pioneers who journeyed west from New York. As a child, Mary was described as healthy, vigorous, and studious. She matured early, both mentally and physically.

She was only 13 years old when she passed the examinations that qualified her to enter Knox Female Seminary. Surprisingly, she taught school for two years at Robbins School in Sparta Township until she was old enough to enter the school. She graduated two years after that, at age 17. Immediately after graduation, Mary began to teach school, which she had declared to be her life work. Successful in teaching and influential in educational circles, Mary earned a reputation as a “lady of grit, grace, and gumption.

When the Civil War broke out, many former slaves arrived at the a local school for African Americans, hoping to learn to read. Mary became their teacher. Often her class had more than 100 students of all ages. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Mary worked tirelessly to organize women into local aid societies to assist the Sanitary Commission. She also entered the field of journalism, which was uncommon for women in her day. She edited Home Magazine in the state of Illinois. The former teacher also served as the first president of the Illinois Women’s Press Association. She also authored a book entitled Childhood, It’s Care and Culture, which was published in 1892. You can view the entire text of the book at this link to the Hathi Trust Digital Library.

Later Mary devoted her considerable energy to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), where she became a hardworking proponent of temperance. She helped to organize the women of Illinois to this cause, and eventually was named the WCTU’s state president.

The exact date of her death is not known, but this Chalkboard Champion passed away in Japan in 1892, where she had gone to advance the cause of temperance. This Chalkboard Champion is buried in Hope Cemetery, Galesburg. To read more about Mary Allen West, see this link at the Galesburg Register Mail.

Teacher Sarah Fain one of Virginia’s first women politicians

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Virginia school teacher Sarah Fain was one of the first two women elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Photo credit: Dictionary of Virginia Biography.

Many talented educators have also earned success in the political realm. One such educator is Sarah Fain, a public school teacher from Virginia who was one of the first two women to be elected to her state’s House of Delegates.

Sarah was born on Nov. 23. 1888, in Norfolk Virginia. She was educated first at Leache-Wood Seminary. She graduated from Hemmingway High School in 19097. Following her high school graduation, Sarah taught for 12 years in elementary schools in the Norfolk public school system. During her summer breaks, she enrolled in summer courses at the University of Virginia. The university did not offer diplomas to women in her day, but still Sarah managed to earn enough credits to qualify as the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Administration.

When World War I broke out, Sarah volunteered for the Norfolk Red Cross, and she sold Liberty bonds to help financially support the war. When the 19th Amendment was ratified, she joined the League of Women voters and became active in Democratic Party politics. In 1923, the former teacher was elected to the House of Delegates becoming one of the two first women to serve in that political body. She served  total of three terms in the House. As a delegate, Sarah focused on issues that were important to her constituents, especially education and maritime laws. During her last term, she chaired the prestigious Committee on Schools and Colleges. In addition, she voted for an anti-lynching bill that was then the strictest in the nation.

During the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Sarah was appointed to serve in several New Deal agencies, including the National Emergency Council, where she helped establish the United States Information Service and served as its first chief. She later directed a homestead community project and supervised a rural family resettlement program.

In 1938, Sarah moved to San Marino, California, and continued to participate in local politics. It was there that she passed away on July 20, 1962. She was buried at Norfolk’s Elmwood Cemetery.

To learn more about Sarah Fain, see this article about her in the Dictionary of Virginia Biography published by the Library of Virginia.

Mary Miranda Knight of Washington state: A true pioneer

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Mary Miranda Knight of Washington state was a true pioneer. She served as the Superintendent of Schools in Mason County. Photo credit: William Knight.

Many intrepid pioneers in American history were also talented educators. One of these was Mary Miranda Knight, a teacher who earned accolades as an innovative teacher in the state of Washington.

Mary was born on Sept. 2, 1854, in Ingham County in southern Michigan. She was one of seven children born to immigrants from Scotland. During her youth, her parents moved from Michigan to Dakota, and then to Washington State.

Mary was just a high school student when she declared her intention to become a teacher. She was 16 years old when she realized her dream and stood in front of her first classroom. Originally, she taught in Eaton Falls, Michigan, next in Huron, Dakota, and later in the cities of Shelton and Bellingham in Washington State. Her career as an educator spanned the years from 1870 to 1921, a total of 51 years.

In 1900, the talented teacher was elected to serve as the Superintendent of Schools in Mason County, Washington. She served in this position for 18 years. During her tenure, Mary worked diligently to consolidate the five small school districts along the Western border of Mason County. Mary believed that one large school district could offer students greater educational opportunities than five small school districts could. The new school district was built in 1924, and was named Mary M. Knight School District #311 in her honor.

For her work in Washington schools, Mary was recognized with a school named in her after her, the Mary M. Knight High School. The school was built in the unincorporated area of Matlock, Washington.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on Jan. 31, 1940, in Seattle, following a lengthy illness. She was 86 years old. To learn more about her, see this online biography entitled Mary M Knight School District 311.