I was born on March 7, 1919, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. My parents were both teachers and didn't get paid well because we lived in a segregated state.

My life-long learning began early in my life. I always credited my mother with instilling a lifelong habit of hard work. As a child, I learned to read at age three, entered the third grade at age six, and started college at age 16.

I first attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. I became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority before leaving and completed my bachelor's degree in music at the University of Iowa. When I returned to Oklahoma, I worked as a music teacher.

During World War II, I joined other young women and went to Washington, D.C., to work. At a law firm, is where I discovered skills in taking legal dictation and started to study law. I earned two law degrees at Indiana University, met and married my husband, Charles.

After graduation we moved Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1950. I got a job working for William H. Hastie, he had been appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. I worked for him in Washington, D.C., for a few years, before I established my own law practice in 1954. I was appointed to the District Attorney's office and became renowned for my record of success in the courtroom.

By 1959 I was appointed as a municipal court judge and became the first African American woman in the state to serve as a judge. That year I won election to the post and was the first African American woman in the United States to be elected to a judgeship.

In 1988 I was appointed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the first African American woman in the United States to serve on the Supreme Court of any state. I remained there until I retired at the age of 70.

My husband and I were married for forty-six years until his death in 1988. I died from leukemia on August 21, 1998, in Philadelphia. We are both buried in Wewoka, Oklahoma.

WHO AM I?

(Last week's answer: Medgar Wiley Evers)

Watch the video HERE.

Math Concepts: Subtraction, estimation, patterns, strategy

How it Works: Draw a square, and pick four numbers to go in each of the corners. Put a dot on the midpoint of each side, and find the positive difference between the numbers on the closest corner. Now connect the midpoints. Lo and behold, you’ve got yourself another square! Which means you can repeat the process until you get all zeroes. (See next page for illustration.)

Big Questions: Will this process always end in all zeroes? If not, what’s the longest it can last?

The Challenge: After you explain the rules and do a couple examples (using small numbers), challenge them to find a diffy square that will last for more “layers,” or squares going inward, than any previous. What’s the maximum number of squares you can get?

Why it’s a great lesson: First, it’s interesting, engaging, and totally mysterious. Everything seems to go to zero, but there doesn’t seem to be any pattern. Because of that, it’s a genuine puzzle, and kids will work on it. Happily, while they’re working, they’ll do an enormous number of subtraction problems, and be motivated to get them correct. You can also use this as a motivation to teach more sophisticated kinds of subtraction, like multi-digit, decimal, or fraction subtraction. Each new type of subtraction may hold the key to break the old record!

This is based on the candy wave machine featured in Dean Baird's video (includes VIDEO of the wave machine in action): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCbf9_4xN_E

Experiment instructions available HERE.

Watch video HERE.

Get a colorful lesson in food science with our Sugar Rainbow Density Science Experiment, where density differences are revealed in a colorful stack of sugar-water samples.

The Sugar Rainbow is a creative and engaging way to see how liquids of different densities stack on top each other. (Hint: There’s an additional lesson about adhesion and cohesion in the mix for you, too.) A simple combination of some everyday table sugar and vibrant colored water leads to an awesome science experience about density. Ready for it? Let’s go!

Experiment instructions available HERE.

Add at least 5 scoops to your cone by completing specific reading challenges.

Once you’ve done what the scoop says for 20 minutes, color it in, cut it out and glue it to the cone.

5 scoops earn you an ice cream treat!

Download your form below!

Goal: Every NHE student is represented in PTA by at least

Status: Currently 33% of our students are represented. We are 1/4 of the way there!

Join Here

There is NO obligation or expectation to volunteer or attend meetings. (But we do LOVE to meet members and find fun opportunities for those that want to help!)

Membership assistance is available. We do not want funds to stand in the way of those that want to join. Please email president@nhe-pta.org to request a confidential scholarship.

Status: We are 43% of the way to our goal.

Donate Here

And remember to ask your employers about their Corporate Match Plan. Many local employers will match the donation you make up to 100%!

Every dollar contributed to our Pass the Hat fundraiser goes directly to support the programs offered by the PTA. A donation of $100 covers our spending per student, but any amount is appreciated. Every dollar counts!

We are a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Our Tax ID number is 91-1208399.

Why Aren’t There More Black Teachers?

Listen Now