Lakeland's Black community demonstrated a strong desire to educate its children and made an early push to provide them educations.

 

An important aspect of educating the Black children was to find or attract people who had the talent, determination and dedication to serve as educators.

 

The chosen Black educators had to perform this task in an environment in which many students had to work during harvest season.  In addition, the schools and their salaries were limited to what the community could provide.  Above all, education for Blacks was under  attack by a larger society which tried to define it as futile, and subconsciously viewed it as a threat to the social order.

 

There are view records of the first persons to serve as Black teachers in Lakeland.  However, school boards records from 1887 reflect that Amos Stewart, one of the original Black settlers, was appointed the Supervisor of the Colored School.  Nettie Adderley is one of the few names that appear consistently as a teacher.  She's followed by William Rochelle, who is known as a pioneer for the education of Blacks in Lakeland.

 

In the 1920s, the demand for educating Blacks grew with the Black population.  More facilities were developed in the community and more people hired to serve as teachers and administrators.  Some of the Blacks who have served community are below.

Nettie Adderly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosabelle Blake

 

 

 

 

Elsie Dunbar

 

 

UJ Johnson

 

 

 

Edward Murray

 

 

 

 

Mary Newton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birdie Oldham

 

 

 

 

Vivian Postell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neriah Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William A Rochelle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucille Rochelle

 

 

Willie Speed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amos Stewart

 

 

 

One of the most notable teachers at the Colored School which later became Moorehead Elementary.  She also served as principal of Moorehead Elementary and later became Chair of the English Department of Washington Park/Rochelle High. She worked in the school system for over 40 years.

 

Served as Supervisor of Negro Schools for the County.  Duty was to serve as a liaison between Black schools and Superintendent.

 

Teacher and principal of Rochelle Junior High School.

 

In 1960, he was named the first Black guidance counselor at Rochelle High School.

 

Became principal of Washington Park School in 1927.  In 1928, the school expanded its grade levels from 8th to 11th and it became a high school.

 

Began teaching at Rochelle High  and tranferred to Kathleen High after Rochelle High was closed in 1970.  An advocate for teachers' rights, she served several terms as President of the Polk County chapter of the National Education Association (NEA).

 

Was principal of Washington Park Elementary, which became Rochelle Elementary, from the mid-1940s until 1961 when she retired.

 

Vivian Postell was born and raised in Lakeland, in 1928.  an educator and strong advocate for Black students having opportunities in advanced placement courses in high schools.  She also

 

Spent most of his adult career in the Polk County School system.  He began his career as a teacher at Rochelle High School.  Then he became an administrator, and when the Rochelle was closed in 1969, he became an administrator at Lakeland Jr High.  Later in his career he became an assistant superintendent.

 

A front-runner in all of the Black movements in Lakeland during his time; and recognized as an outstanding citizen for his educational and community activities including starting the Boy Scouts.  He was active in Red Cross, Community Chest, Cancer and Polio drives.  The Washington Park schools were renamed in his honor.

 

Principal of Rochelle Elementary and wife of William Rochelle.

 

Started working as Athletic Director for Rochelle High in 1962.  When Rochelle High closed in 1969, he transferred to Kathleen Senior High where he later matriculated to assistant principal, and then to principal in 1978.

 

Referred to as the "Supervisor of the Colored School' in some of the first County School Boards regarding the education of Blacks.

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