February/March Issue 2018
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Celebrating An Austin Icon
Returning To Work at 50!
Meet Mrs. Olyvia Green The First Black Teacher at Pease Elementary
I
met Mrs. Olyvia Green at an event last September. She instantly walked up and hugged me and introduced herself. During this same event, I learned that she was the first Black teacher at Pease Elementary. To celebrate Black History Month, Ujima wanted to introduce and celebrate this Austin icon.
but with each incident, she fought back with respect and dignity.
Mrs. Green moved to Austin, Texas in 1967 after being borned and raised in Magnolia Arkansas. In 1969, she began her teaching career at Pease Elementary School. She was the first Black teacher to walk the halls of the elementary and integrate the school. The principal at the time was Ms. Hunter. Mrs. Green recalled going to her home to interview for the teaching position. As the interview came to an end, Ms.Hunter offered the job to Mrs. Green. Accepting the job was the easy part, working with an all White staff was a different ball game. “I would get the fake smiles when passing teachers in the hallway.” stated Mrs. Green. She saw and felt the racism from staff and parents but continued her mission of teaching. Mrs. Green experienced racism, ignorance and nonacceptance
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It Doesn’t Have To Be A Hard Road
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Mrs. Green taught for 26 years at Pease Elementary. She taught all subjects. She lead the way for future Black teachers and she is most proud about that. One of her fondest memories is her 75th Birthday Party. She wanted to invite her students from Pease alone with some of her friends. She called Dwight Piper, whom she taught in first and third grade, and asked him to to invite some of the students. They had about 30 or more students and parents at the party alone with her other guests.
There was a time when people worked for a company until they retired with a pension and collected their social security benefits. That is no longer the case for most people. You can work for a company and get laid off or you need to get back into the workforce and for older workers, it can be difficult. Looking for a job after 50 can be exhausting but there are programs to assist you in finding your next job while competing with millennials.
Mrs. Green has many accolades for her teaching and being the first Black teacher at Pease Elementary. Ujima celebrates the accomplishment and the paving the way for all teachers and professionals who educate and inspire our children every day.
To get started, you should attend one of the information sessions. The next session will be on February 27, 2018 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM Location: ACC Highland Campus Address: 6101 Highland Campus Drive Room Number: ACCelerator, Room 1101
Thanks for everything you have done for our community and children forging them ahead with knowledge.
For more information, please visit http://sites.austincc.edu/back-to-work-fiftyplus/.
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