Personal Life
Relationships and Employment
Prior to living in Virginia, my husband Charles and I lived in Baltimore, Maryland. We have been married for 45 years. Our relationship began when my friend, Dr. Bettina Monroe Scott, Charles’ cousin, wanted to go to the Playboy Club in 1973. At that time, the Playboy Club was in Baltimore, Maryland where Bettina and I lived. I was asked to come alone because Charles didn’t have a date and would take his cousin if she could find someone to go with him. Since I had never been to the Playboy Club, I was happy to accept the invitation. After the evening was over and having had a wonderful time, they dropped me off to my apartment. That was the end of that, I thought. The next morning, my doorbell rang and to my surprise it was Charles. His pick-up line was “I thought I would stop by for a cup of coffee”. In June 1976 we became husband and wife. The rest is history.
During the years, we have enjoyed our relationship with each other even though like all marriages, there were some ups and downs. We have been blessed to have a son, a lovely daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Also, during the years of our marriage we have been able to have traveled throughout the United States and Abroad. Our travels have included visiting most of the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the surrounding Islands.
At the time, I met Charles, I was a mathematics teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System. My first assignment was in a well-known Baltimore community called Cherry Hill. The population was at least 99 percent African Americans.
I enjoyed my assignment as a mathematics teacher. The teachers and administrators were supportive of each other. We wanted each person to be the best that he/she could be. It was all us as faculty doing our best so that we could impart to the students impeccable knowledge, skills and abilities. It was that experience that helped me to develop into the student focused educator that I became.
As I progressed from being a mathematics teacher, to the mathematics supervisor, and an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Development, I learned in a real practical sense that it was worth it to always put the needs of the students first, even if some of -focused decisions cost me my career. In my many years as an educator, although we worked hard, we played hard as well. During my time as a teacher, we were not afraid to show love to all the students, even to the point of bringing them to our homes or taking them on trips outside of their normal living environment so that new experiences could help to broaden their dreams and aspirations. As a teacher, I learned that when we help children, we are helping the parents, the community and shaping the future.
My total encounters as a mathematics teacher, mathematics supervisor, principal, assistant superintendent, as well as having experiences at the college level, helped me to understand at even a much deeper level that life is not worth living unless we are willing to share what we know to help others. Although, at the end of my formal educational career as teacher, supervisor, and principal, when I suspended 1200 students for demonstrating a lack of respect for authority and it cost me my job, it was worth the risk taken. In the end, as I reminisce about my career in education, I am able to say to myself, with honesty and confidence, “Job Well Done.”
Publications:
- How to Bounce Back When Life Falls Apart – The Message Is In My Mess, 2019
- Doctor of Philosophy – Mathematics Education, University of Maryland, College Park, Published, 1990, University of Maryland College Park, Copyright, 1990
- National and International Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Mathematical Education (Presenter), 1986
- Shopping Mathematics, Media Production, 1970
Awards and Recognition:
- Afterschool Program Award – Monroe Street Church of God
- AL-TAWIP Appreciation Award for Making a Difference
- Appreciation Awards for Hard Work and Outstanding Service to the Baltimore City Public Schools
- Certificate of License To Preach The Gospel
- Formal Invitation to President Barack Hussein Obama Inauguration
- Govans’ Ecumenical Development Cooperation
- Monroe Street Church of God – After School Program - Northern Senior High School Appreciation Award
- Northern High School Principal Award
National Media Recognition For Academic Leadership
- Afro-American Newspaper
- The Baltimore Sun News Paper
- Boston Tribune
- The Central Virginian Newspaper
- The New York Times
U. S. House of Congress – Effects of Testing on Minority Students, University of Australia, Adelaide, Australia Creating Models for Problem Solving
Maryland Senate Education Committee – Justification for an Afrocentric Curriculum in the Baltimore City Public School System
Central, West and South African Nations -Demonstrating Successful Models for Transferring Technical Expertise to Third World Nations.
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA - Successful Strategies for Motivating Minority Males.
Princeton University, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, New Jersey – Formative and Summative Evaluations – Helping Teachers Teach.
St. John’s University, Long Island, New York - Socio- psychological Approach Drug Abuse.
St. Johns College, Santa Fe, New Mexico - Political Implications and Their Significance in the Educational Process.
Degrees
Profession
Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, MD (1965 -1999)
Mathematics Teacher
Educational Specialist
Mathematics Supervisor
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Development
Morgan State University – Baltimore, MD (On Loan From BCPS)
Assistant Director of the Science, Mathematics & Education Program
Director of Pre-College Programs
Church Affiliations
Monroe Street Church of God, Baltimore, MD (Past Church)
Director of Operation Turnaround Community, Inc.
Sang on the Senior Choir
Laurel Hill Baptist Church - Mineral, Virginia (Current Church)
Developed and Led an After School Elementary Program
Associate Minister
Adult Sunday School Teacher
Financial Advisor (Past)
Formal Invitation: Inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama, 2009
Recognition for Academic Leadership - National Media
Afro-Centric Curriculum –The New York Times (1991)
Suspension of Twelve Hundred Students (1997 – 1998)
Afro-American Newspaper
Boston Tribune
The Baltimore Sun Paper
The Central Virginian Newspaper
Experienced Assistant Superintendent - Demonstrated history of working in the educational management industry.
Skilled in Developing Nonprofit Organizations
Volunteer Management
K-12 Curriculum Development
Public Speaking, and Program Development.
