2020 Hall of Fame
inspirational inductees
CAROLYN BAILEY
Outstanding educator and community leader whose career spanned twenty-eight years. Served as Dean of Instruction at Robert T. Hill Middle School and South Oak Cliff High School; first principal of Ronald McNair Elementary School; principal of the School for Health Professions at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, (recognized as one of the top schools in the country); Named area superintendent to oversee the operation of the district’s magnet programs, comprehensive schools and alternative programs. Managed the area’s budget and provided technical assistance to campuses. Served as a Texas Blue Ribbon Site Visitor to Illinois and was assigned to the State of Texas Accreditation Monitoring Team to Oregon.
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WILLIE CROWDER
Rose through the ranks to become a successful career teacher and administrator. Served as principal of Margaret B. Henderson, A. W. Blanton, and Sidney Lanier Elementary Schools; Henry W. Longfellow, John B. Hood, T. J. Rusk, and Boude Storey Middle Schools. Became a minority recruiter in the human resources department and was very effective in filling vacancies in critical areas. Served as assistant superintendent and associate superintendent in the human resources department at Dallas ISD. Career spans over forty years. After retirement, applied her talents and skills as a Texas Education agency external monitor at Birdie Alexander Elementary to help that school achieve and move to an academically successful status.
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SHIRLEY R. FISHER
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.
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LELA HERRON
Educator, entrepreneur and civic leader made a lasting impact on the city of Dallas in multiple arenas during her 34 years as a classroom teacher, while serving 29 of those years in Dallas ISD at Alex Spence Middle School, J. J. Rhoads and T. D. Marshall Elementary Schools (renamed Clara Oliver). At T. D. Marshall, her peers selected her three times as “Teacher of the Year.” Her classroom became known as the prototype class for excellence in teaching and learning. Selected for the Jack Lowe Excellence in Teaching Award and Superior Performance Fellows Award in East Oak Cliff Sub District. Very active in community and civic affairs.
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DR. HELEN JONES
Began her career as a classroom teacher in San Antonio, later serving as assistant principal at San Jacinto and Annie Webb Blanton Elementary Schools. As principal at Priscilla Tyler Elementary, was credited for the successful turn-around of the campus. Coordinated special projects for the Curriculum and Instruction Department, served in the Dallas ISD Grants Department and provided technical assistance to campuses. Successfully advocated to name the School of Education and Social Services at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center for Dr. Rosie Collins Sorrells. Lead efforts to name the Dr. H. B. Bell Student Support Services Center in his honor; tutored students, mentored and taught future educators at Paul Quinn College.
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DR. ROBBIE PIPKIN
While serving 39 years in public education, this Dallas ISD graduate worked as a teacher and campus leader. Positions held include teacher of special needs students and gifted students; facilitator and resource teacher for special education; Dean of Instruction, Lincoln High School; Principal of A. S. Johnston Elementary School; Multiple Careers Magnet High School and Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploratory Academy. Longfellow Academy named a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School; Received Outstanding Middle School of Texas Award and Meadows Foundation Award for Charitable School Projects for Multiple Career High School Magnet. Educator who devoted her career to making students a priority to ensure high academic success.
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ORETHANN PRICE
Devoted more than 30 years in Dallas ISD elementary schools working to create exemplary campuses where students were excited and passionate about learning. This educator focused on academic achievement and championed a robust extracurricular program for students before, during, and after school. Recognition for outstanding performance as a teacher: A. W. Blanton Elementary School Teacher of the Year, DISD Golden Award Nominee for National Teacher of the Year; Perot Teacher Award Nominee; National Teacher of the Year Nominee. Principal of Jimmie Tyler Brashear, T. D. Marshall and John N. Bryan Elementary Schools. The Texas Education Agency rated T. D. Marshall and John Neely Bryan Elementary Schools as Recognized and Exemplary.
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DR. DELORES SEAMSTER
Served in Dallas ISD for more than 40 years in various roles, including teacher, assistant principal, principal, curriculum specialist, and staff development specialist. As Executive Director of Reading, led the district from 11 low performing schools for writing to zero campuses. A proponent of reading and writing literacy, Dr. Seamster trains teachers and administrators to implement learning strategies used by effective schools. She also created “The Write Direction” K-12 writing plan for Dallas ISD. The Dallas ISD reading and writing curriculum, developed and implemented under Dr. Seamster’s leadership, bolstered increased student achievement and standardized test scores across the district. Also served as adjunct professor with the Dallas County Community College District.
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CAROLYN THOMPSON
Outstanding educator whose career spanned thirty-five years. After more than a decade in the classroom as a teacher, the next 18 years were spent as a school counselor at several Dallas ISD schools. Served ten years as an assistant principal at Daniel Webster Elementary School before her retirement. Her legacy as an administrator was that she created a nurturing campus culture focused on student and teacher success. Served on the District wide Counselor Committee and as a curriculum writer for the elementary counselor program. Also serves as a mentor to beginning teachers as well as to high school and college students. New Birth Baptist Church Pioneer Inductee. Very active in civic and community activities.
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HARNELL WILLIAMS
Educator served 37 years in teaching and leadership positions with a simple philosophy: “Teach the children while treating them with dignity and respect.” Began a teaching career in the Tyler ISD; taught second and third grade at Edna Rowe Elementary School where she was selected as teacher of the year. Promoted to several leadership positions including dean of instruction, assistant principal, and principal. Williams served as the principal for four Dallas ISD schools in which two of those campuses consistently received Texas Education Agency Recognized status, the second-highest rating given by the state. She also received the MetLife Outstanding Principal award; and Dallas ISD Area 4 Principal of the Year Award.
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