executive
board
Meet our founder
& Executive Board
Learn more about the passionate educators behind the African American Education Archives & History Program. Get to know the people and stories that support AAEAHP.
Executive Board of the AAEAHP
The people behind the organization
LINCOLN BUTLER Sr.
President
Began his career as a high school teacher in Brinkley, AR, Butler also served the Boards of Education in Flint, MI, New York City, and Dallas ISD as teacher, program director, assistant principal, and principal of four campuses. Additionally, he served as principal of Cedar Hill HS after retirement from Dallas ISD. Butler is the published author of his autobiography titled, “My Journey.”
DR. ANDREA HILBURN
1st Vice President
First Vice President of the African American Education Archives and History Program; an Educator of 50+ years; a Field Advisor for Education Career Alternative Program; Chair of the City of Dallas Municipal Library Board; Registered Parliamentarian; and Vice President of the South Dallas Concert Choir. Committed / Diligent / Loyal / and Reliable.
Verna Mitchell
2nd Vice President
Verna Mitchell devoted her life to education. She served thirty-five years in the Dallas ISD. Principal of Maynard H. Jackson and Thomas Tolbert elementary schools . Master teacher and teacher trainer. Christian Academy. Appointed by late Governor Ann Richards to State ESEA Committee. Selected to attend the Principal's Institute at Harvard University. Legend in Education Award, Dallas Urban League.
CAROLYN THOMPSON
Recording Secretary
Spent 35 years serving passionately as a teacher, counselor, and administrator in DISD. She remains active in community and religious activities and enjoys mentoring high school and college students as well as beginning teachers.
Cassandra Black
Assistant Recording Secretary
Cassandra’s entire career in education was in Dallas ISD. She started as a classroom teacher and later served as English Department Chairperson and Teacher of the Year at North Dallas High School. After a promotion to Director of Certification/Employee Relations, she ensured that only qualified teachers and Administrators were hired, and the District met all No Child Left Behind requirements. Her efforts led to the District being “Recognized” by the Texas Education Agency.
GWENDOLYN J. BRANTLEY
Corresponding Secretary
Retired from DISD after 38 years of service. Following retirement, she became active with dr/Nabse and served as corresponding secretary, treasurer and webmaster. She was selected chair of the Hall of Fame in 2020 and continues to serve in that capacity.
LORETTA HENRY SIMON
Assistant Corresponding Secretary
Has served as a leader in the field of communications for four decades, focusing on public relations, media relations and major event productions for the Dallas Independent School District. Earlier in her career, she worked for Bloom Advertising Agency and Tracy-Locke Advertising, both located in Dallas. She is co-founder of Marvel Events & Marketing, a Dallas-area event planning and marketing service. A native of Kilgore, TX, Simon graduated from East Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
MELVIN TRAYLOR
Treasurer
Began his teaching career at B. T. Washington. Served the Dallas ISD in many positions: Intern, Administrative Specialist, Assistant Principal; Principal-Roberts Elem., Edison Environmental Science Academy, and Roosevelt H.S.; Director, Office of Student Responsibility; Director, Dallas County Juvenile Justice Alternative Ed. Program; Director, Pinnacle Family Programs (Southwest Housing).
SHIRLEY FISHER
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Educational career spanned over 40 years. Served as classroom teacher, counselor and administrator in Dallas ISD for 28 years. She also served in school districts in Galveston and Wilmer Hutchins, Texas. Other positions held in Dallas ISD include coordinator of federal school to work transition project, Coordinator Project Grow (Giving Real Options to Women), counselor, supervisor of high school counselors, and appointed Dallas ISD’s first minority interim Director of Counseling Services. Fisher also has an extensive record of community service. She was chair and member of site-based decision-making teams at several Dallas ISD Schools. A Playground at William Brown Miller Elementary School is named in her honor.
Eugene Young III
Financial Secretary
South Dallas native served more than four decades as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent in Dallas, Lancaster, Wilmer Hutchins, and Grand Prairie school districts. He is known for moving low- performing schools to academic excellence. Mr. Young served as chairman of the National Association of Secondary School Urban School Committee, Texas Association of Secondary Schools Board of Directors, and the University Interscholastic League Legislative Committee. Mr. Young was honored as Teacher of the Year, inducted in the Prairie View Interscholastic League Hall of Honor, and inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.
Patricia Ward
Assistant Financial Secretary
Retired educator with over 29 years of experience in teaching and leadership. Passionate about building strong school-community partnerships, she now serves in the area of community engagement, working to connect families, students, and local organizations with meaningful opportunities for growth and support. With a deep commitment to education and relationship-building, Patricia continues to make a lasting impact beyond the classroom.
DR. THALIA MATHERSON
Parliamentarian
An educator who skillfully bridged the worlds of education and community service. Spent more than two decades as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and district administrator in the Dallas ISD. President of the Dallas School Administrators Association. Took early retirement to become a sought after civic leader. Some civic service milestones: Trustee-SMU, Huston Tillotson University; President, Dallas Retired Teachers Association and others.
DR. ALFRED L. ROBERTS, SR.
President Emeritus
Founder and first president of the African American Education Archives and History Program.
Lisa Brown Ross
Ex Officio
More positions
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Michele Anderson
Mary Bolden
Johnnie Brashear
Rachel Elder
Shirley Fisher
Thelma Kelly
Kathryn L. Mitchell
Hattie Newhouse
Lucious Newhouse, Jr.
Dr. Rosie Sorrells
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Estelle Adams
Carolyn Bailey
Alene Baker
Dr. Helen Benjamin
Cassandra Black
Dr. Lew Blackburn
Mary Smith Bradley
Paula Brown
Marilyn Calhoun
Willie Crowder
Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney
Robert Edison
Clarence Glover
Lela Herron
Dr. Lillian Hoskins
S. Dean Hill
Dr. Nell Ingram
Dr. Charna Jackson
Shirley Ison-Newsome
Earl Jones
Regina Jones
Thomas G. Jones
Lois King
Martha Lee
Mary Lester
Dr. Levatta L. Levels
Dr. Larry Lewis
Dr. William Lyons IV
Rai Cole Malone
Bertric Manning
Terry McPhail
Dr. Beverly Mitchell Brooks
Vickie Mitchell
William Mitchell
Dora Morris
Aniete Antia Obong
Dr. Charmaine Price
Orethann Price
Robert Price
Carla Ranger
Dr. Delores Seamster
Dr. Juanita Simmons
Cheryl Smith
Dr. Roscoe C. Smith
Wanda Smith
Bernard Snowden
Bill Townsend
Roosevelt Vaughn
Harnell Williams
LaRon Wilson
Dr. Jennifer Wimbish
Norma Wright
Make a contribution
thank you for your generosity
Contribute to our program by submitting a piece of history to display on our digital wall or by donating toward our scholarships.
For more information, call Dr. Alfred L. Roberts, Sr. (214) 478-7228 or Ms. Gwendolyn Brantley at (972) 298-6980 or fill out the contact form below.
