AAEAHP Honors Educators and Community Leaders at Bobbie L. Lang Hall of Fame Luncheon

The African American Education Archives and History Program (AAEAHP) recognized 13 distinguished honorees—10 educators and three community, state, and national leaders—during its annual Bobbie L. Lang Hall of Fame Luncheon April 11. Honorees were celebrated for outstanding contributions to education and exemplary service that has strengthened schools and communities.

The sold-out luncheon brought together supporters, colleagues, and guests for an afternoon of recognition and reflection, highlighting the impact of this year’s Hall of Fame educator inductees: Michelle Lilly Briscoe; Rev. Armond W. Brown; the late Ned Green (represented by his wife, Betty Green); Wanda Huckaby; Dr. Maude Small (represented by her son, David A. Small); Ethel Snowden; Dr. Candace E. Wicks; Marian A. Willard; La Ron E. Wilson; and Dr. George Woodrow Jr. Presidential Awards were presented to The Honorable Helen Giddings and the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (represented by her son, D. Kirk Johnson). Emma Rodgers received the Trailblazer Award.

Yazmin Sanchez and Daijah Brown were awarded scholarships to continue their educational journeys. Timothy A. Minor Jr. received the Outstanding Young Educator Award.

AAEAHP extends sincere thanks to CUTX for serving as honorary sponsor for the second consecutive year, and to the sponsors, advertisers, and attendees whose support helped make the luncheon a success.

Legacy Scholar Award by Hall of Famers

Those inducted into the AAEAHP Hall of Fame have established a new student scholarship—funded by Hall of Fame Members—to help students pursue and persist in a 4-year college degree program.

The Legacy Scholar Award by Hall of Famers is designed to benefit (1) high school seniors preparing to begin college and (2) currently enrolled college students who need financial assistance to stay in school.

To build and sustain this scholarship fund, each Hall of Fame awardee is asked to contribute a minimum of $250 per year.

Contributions may be made in full or in 10 payments, with all payments due by March 1 of each year.

How to contribute

• Check: Make checks payable to AAEAHP and mail to P.O. Box 411091, Dallas, TX 75241.
• Zelle: Send to ehof2002@gmail.com.

Questions? Contact the Chair, Shirley Ison-Newsome, at aka-sin@att.net.

Photo Above: Scholarship Chair Gwendolyn Brantley presents a 2026 scholarship to Yazmin Sanchez at the recent Hall of Fame Luncheon.

Nominations Open for the 2027 Education Hall of Fame

The 2027 AAEAHP Education Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations, offering an opportunity to honor outstanding educators who have made significant contributions to the field. This prestigious recognition celebrates individuals dedicated to advancing education, fostering innovation, and inspiring students and colleagues alike.

Nominees may include teachers, administrators, mentors, or others whose impact has shaped their communities and elevated the standards of learning. The individual should have made significant contributions to the educational experience of African Americans in Dallas County, 1902 - present.

• Educators – A minimum of 15 years in the profession and retired 3 years from a full-time position.
• Non-Educators – A minimum of 3 years of service and retired 3 years from a specific educational
• endeavor.

Categories – (e.g., school board member, district advisory committee member, PTA supporter, civil rights activist, support staff, founder/leader of professional community organization and/or participant in community initiatives to improve education.

The deadline is Saturday, July 18, 2026, to submit a nomination for the AAEAHP Education Hall of Fame. To complete an application online or to download a hard copy, go to: https://aaeahp.org/hall-of-fame/submit-a-nomination/

School Named for Esteemed Hall of Fame Member Shirley Ison-Newsome

Hall of Fame Member Shirley Ison-Newsome (2017) has received a distinguished honor from the Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees: Harry Stone Montessori International Baccalaureate Academy has been renamed Shirley Ison-Newsome Montessori Academy, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School.

The Board also approved two additional campus name changes honoring former Dallas City Councilwoman and activist Diane Ragsdale and former Dallas ISD administrator and community leader Hector Flores.

Ison-Newsome previously served as principal of Harry Stone Middle School before a federal desegregation court order transitioned the campus to a Montessori program. She later served as area superintendent overseeing Stone Montessori Academy and led efforts to secure IB certification for grades 6–8 while maintaining Montessori programming for PK–5. Her work at Harry Stone also helped shape districtwide middle school programming. Former Superintendent Chad Woolery tapped Ison-Newsome to develop the District’s Middle School Initiative, which outlined instructional programming for middle schools and provided training for middle school principals and lead teachers in research-based middle level education principles and strategies.

Legacy in Action: Is There a Doctor in the House?

Yes—three, in fact. Daughters follow in Mom’s footsteps.

Hall of Famer Dr. Juanita Simmons

For the Simmons family, the question “Is there a doctor in the house?” carries special meaning. When it comes to hard-earned educational degrees, three women can confidently answer yes—building a shared legacy of scholarship, service, and leadership that began with Dr. Juanita Simmons.

Juanita M. Cleaver Simmons, PhD, is the proud member of the 2023 AAEAHP Education Hall of Fame. She currently serves as Diversity Consultant for the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association’s stopRED (stop Racial and Ethnic Disparities) Division. Her work in this nonprofit, youth-oriented organization is to provide service for juvenile court officials, law enforcers, juvenile probation officers, and others connected to prevention and diversion of legal encounters for youth. There, she specializes in training and designs for diversity, equity, climate, workplace civility and inclusion. She is the former Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Northwest Missouri State University. She was awarded emerita associate professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she served in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis division of the College of Education. She is a former high school teacher and administrator in the Dallas Independent School District (ISD) and worked in the Austin ISD. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a focus on Urban Superintendency, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas-Austin. Her research agenda focuses on race, gender, class, and equity in organizations and institutions. 

Dr. Tia N. Locke Simmons

Dr. Tia N. Locke Simmons is the daughter of Alexander Simmons, Sr. and Dr. Juanita Cleaver Simmons. Having grown up in classrooms observing her mother educate and inspire students, she developed an early and enduring commitment to education. She is a fourth-generation doctoral scholar and earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University.

With over 26 years of experience across urban and suburban school systems in the Dallas and Houston metroplex areas, Dr. Locke Simmons has served more than 200,000 students and led over 2,500 staff in diverse leadership roles. Her work is grounded in advancing outcomes for economically disadvantaged communities, strengthening leadership capacity, and driving high-quality instruction. She has overseen and aligned more than $150 million in funding to support strategic, equity-centered initiatives.

A student advocate, servant leader, community organizer, and education reformer, Dr. Locke Simmons brings extensive expertise in strategic oversight across academic and operational domains, including principal development, budget strategy, special education, multilingual education, virtual learning, intervention programming, and gifted and talented education. She is known for delivering measurable, sustained results across diverse student populations and for her success in both turnaround and high-performing environments.

Currently, she serves as Executive Director of Instruction in Houston ISD, leading seven campuses with a focus on instructional excellence and leadership development. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and serves as Chair and CEO of One Delta Plaza Educational Center, Incorporated.

Dr. Mari L. Sifo

Dr. Mari L. Sifo is the daughter of Alexander Simmons, Sr. and Dr. Juanita Cleaver Simmons. Having grown up in environments shaped by excellence, leadership, and service, she developed an early and enduring commitment to organizational impact and people-centered leadership. She is a fourth-generation doctoral scholar and earned her doctorate degree from Kennesaw State University.

With over 25 years of global executive experience spanning six continents, Mari has led enterprise-wide strategy across Human Resources, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and ESG. She has supported organizations through significant growth, market expansion, and the successful integration of complex acquisitions, while advising executive leaders and boards on aligning talent, culture, and strategy to drive sustainable performance and enterprise value.

A strategic advisor, executive leader, and culture architect, Mari brings deep expertise in organizational transformation, executive transitions, governance alignment, and leadership development. She is known for guiding leaders through high-stakes, complex environments—ensuring clarity of vision, disciplined execution, and protection of brand and reputation. Her work centers on strengthening leadership effectiveness at the highest levels and positioning organizations for long-term success.

Currently, she serves as a trusted advisor to executives and boards, supporting first-time and aspiring Chief Human Resource Officers as they step into one of the most critical roles in the organization. Through her work, she helps leaders establish alignment, clarify authority, and lead with strategic confidence from day one. She is a proud member of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. 

About AAEAHP

Founded in 2002, the AAEAHP’s mission is to raise awareness of the African American educational experience in Dallas County by collecting and preserving archives, recognizing outstanding individuals, supporting students and young educators.

The African American Education Archives & History Program is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization.

Learn more about us at aaeahp.org