Teacher at Roger Q. Mills and James W. Fannin elementary schools, assistant principal and principal at six Dallas ISD elementary schools during a 41 year career. Served at Pleasant Grove, George W. Truett, Dan D. Rogers, J.W. Ray, Alex Sanger and T. C. Hassell elementary schools. Honored for leadership at schools recognized for exemplary academic performance by the Texas Education Agency and Dallas ISD. Following retirement served as consultant, Extended Day Program department, academic coordinator and interim principal.


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Thirty-five year career educator-teacher, campus administrator at W. H. Gaston Middle School, T. G. Terry and Adelle Turner elementary schools. Served as one of the directors in the human resources department. Initiated the first in-school suspension program at Gaston Middle School, “Tie Day” at T. G. Terry Elementary School and piloted school uniforms at J. W. Ray Elementary School. Principal of T. G. Terry and Adelle Turner elementary schools when the Texas Education Agency recognized the campuses for outstanding academic achievement. Selected to serve on the Education Reform Principals Forum created by former Texas Governor George W. Bush.


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Distinguished principal, principal of the year, and a recipient of state and district recognition for his turnaround school leadership. Forty-one year career educator, launched his teaching career at K. B. Polk Elementary. Moved into administration after five years. Served as assistant principal or principal at seven schools, including Clara Oliver, J. N. Bryan, W. W. Bushman, T. D. Marshall, J. N. Ervin elementary schools and W, H. Atwell Middle School. Honored with awards by the community for exceptional efforts educating youth.


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A trailblazer of Talented and Gifted Instruction in Dallas ISD. Among Dallas ISD’s first Talented and Gifted Teachers. She taught for 47 years, master teacher, and shared expertise with young educators. Mentored student teachers from Dallas Baptist University and conducted professional development sessions. First African American female teacher at Clara Oliver Elementary School. She also taught at T. D. Marshall and L. K. Hall elementary schools and W. H. Atwell Middle School. DISD and Oak Cliff Teacher of the Year. Glover escorted students on educational trips to Atlanta, Georgia; the World’s Fair, Knoxville, Tennessee; and the King Tut exhibit in New Orleans, Louisiana.


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Inspired legions of educators and children as a teacher, principal, supervisor and college professor in a career of 46 years. First African American teacher in Brownfield, Texas; moved to Dallas ISD and taught at Amelia Earhart and Paul L. Dunbar elementary schools; pioneered in early childhood education. Served as assistant principal and principal at O. M. Roberts and Whitney M. Young elementary schools. Reading specialist. She supervised and provided assistance to teachers in reading in the Title I Programs and other areas. Authored publications for teachers using the Cognitive Curriculum. Member of the Oklahoma Education Foundation Hall of Fame.


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Tireless advocate for educational equity as a member of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees from 2016-2014, represented much of Oak Cliff, District 6. Consistently supported issues related to the welfare of the school staff, naming schools for Kathryn Joy Gilliam and Rev. Zan W. Holmes, Jr., and other issues. She expressed her positions on controversial issues at board meetings and on her blog. Some of these issues included: Opposed school closings, hiring a superintendent favored by most of the board, policy on requiring principals to learn Spanish, making DISD a Charter School District and other issues. Directed the African-American Read-In for more than a decade, promoted literacy to thousands of students, families and teachers.


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Provided stellar services as a teacher, counselor and college administrator. From teaching in Hope, Arkansas, and Wilmer-Hutchins ISD, Smith, moved to Dallas ISD where she taught and served as a counselor at Rufus Burleson, Charles Rice and Dan D. Rogers elementary schools. . One of the first two female recipients of doctorate degrees in Dallas ISD. Assisted a number of educators to seek and complete doctorate degrees. Later, as director of Recruitment and Admissions at Bishop College and director of Guidance and Counseling, and Testing and Evaluation departments, she had a significant impact on the college in the area of teacher recruitment and other areas.


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Founded Dallas County Family Services later renamed Head Start of Greater Dallas. For 40-plus years, Smith was responsible for day-to-day operations of Head Start and Early Head Start. She administered a $35 million budget and supervised 700+ employees at 45 centers and served more than 4000 children. Partnerships were established with Texas Instruments, Dallas Housing Authority SMU and numerous private donors. One of only 30 individuals nationwide named to the Head Start Hall of Fame. Honored with an endowed scholarship at Texas A&M, Commerce, Texas.


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Dallas native and Skyline High School graduate. During his 28 year career, Ward began teaching first Grade at Jose Navarro Community Learning Center in West Dallas. The first African-American principal of Edna Rowe School, he, also served as principal of Sequoyah and H. S. Thompson learning center and James Madison High School. For much of his career, Ward oversaw schools in African American communities located in public housing developments. He viewed his work helping to improve academic achievement at those schools as the most important of his career. Other appointments; Superintendent of Dallas’ Texas Can Charter Schools and adjunct professor at John Hopkins University.


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Trailblazer in the field of dentistry. For more than four decades, Williams has lived dentistry. Widely known as a practicing orthodontist, mentor and catalyst for expanding dental services as a professor and administrator of the Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Baylor College of Dentistry. Founder and Director of the Summer Presidential Enrichment Program, Williams paved the way for numerous minority students to enter the field. Role model for hundreds of underrepresented and underserved students interested in careers in dentistry. Honored with the National Dental Association’s Trailblazer Award for outstanding service to dentistry, community and mankind.


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