On Monday, SA国际传媒 ISD's Board of Trustees approved resolutions to honor two iconic figures of SA国际传媒's education scene鈥擶illie Mae Kirk and Dr. Charles Akins.
Willie Mae Kirk
A longtime educator in AISD schools, Kirk played a pivotal role in the district鈥檚 desegregation during the late 1970s and early 1980s. to honor Kirk, trustees said the SA国际传媒 community 鈥渓ost one of its greatest treasures鈥 and that the resolution was 鈥渁 lasting tribute to Ms. Kirk for her service to AISD, its students and families, and for her many contributions that touched so many lives in such positive and meaningful ways.鈥
Kirk was born on Feb. 4, 1921 in Manor, Texas and attended and graduated from the original L.C. Anderson High SA国际传媒 in east SA国际传媒. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 of science degree in social science at Sam Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson University), and began a career with AISD in 1947 as an elementary school teacher. Kirk retired in 1982, but appeared often before the Board of Trustees through 2009.
Kirk passed away on Sept. 28 following a brief illness.
Dr. Charles Akins
An alum of AISD's Blackshear Elementary SA国际传媒, Kealing Middle SA国际传媒 and the old L.C. Anderson High SA国际传媒, Akins has dedicated more than 50 years of his professional career toward the success of SA国际传媒's schools.
Three years into his teaching career, Akins was chosen as Teacher of the Year and then served as the first African-American teacher at AISD's Johnston High SA国际传媒 (now Eastside Memorial). In 1973 he was chosen to act as the first principal of Anderson High SA国际传媒. He later went on to serve as an associate superintendent with the district. In 1988, the Board of Trustees unanimously decided to name then new Akins High SA国际传媒 in his honor to recognize his lifelong accomplishments and contributions to the district.
The states "Akins is a role model for all students and staff, with more to contribute in the years ahead."