L eg ac y L Le eg ga ac c yy
SSSchool N amed for c ivil r ightS a ctiviSt aNd chool N amed for c ivil r ightS a ctiviSt chool Named for civil rightS activiSt aNd aNd l ocal l iviNg l egeNd t heodora S miley l acey l local ocal l liviNg iviNg l legeNd egeNd t theodora heodora S Smiley miley l lacey acey By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter By R.L. By R.L. Witter Witter
“I “I
was was home home for for my my mother’s mother’s 88th 88th birthday, birthday, driving driving was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving was home for my mother’s 88th birthday, driving on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My was Teaneck on home forRoad,” my mother’s Nanette 88th Lacey birthday, began. driving “My on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My on Teaneck Road,” Nanette Lacey began. “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board on Teaneck mom says, ‘Nanette, Road,” Nanette they’re naming Lacey began. the Board “My mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board mom says, ‘Nanette, they’re naming the Board of Education building after me,’ and I’m thinking, ‘This of Education mom building says, ‘Nanette, after me,’ they’re and naming I’m thinking, the Board ‘This of Education building after me,’ and I’m how thinking, ‘This of Education after and thinking, is She chuckled as she they went of weird.’” is weird.’” Education Shebuilding building chuckled after as me,’ me,’ she recalled recalled and I’m I’m how thinking, they ‘This ‘This went is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went is weird.’” She chuckled as she recalled how they went back and forth over whether it was the board of educais weird.’” back and forth She chuckled over whether as she it was recalled the board how they of educawent back and forth over whether it was the board of educaback and forth over whether it was the board of education building or an actual school being named for the back building tion and forthorover an actual whether school it wasbeing the board named of for educathe tion building or an actual school being named for the tion building or an actual school being named for the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve tion building longtime Teaneck or an resident actual and school local being legend. named “I said, for‘I’ve the longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve longtime Teaneck resident and local legend. “I said, ‘I’ve been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed longtime been telling Teaneck everyone resident they’re andnaming local legend. the Board “I said,of‘I’ve Ed been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of Ed been telling everyone they’re naming the Board of building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” been telling building aftereveryone you. It’s athey’re lie, it’s naming wrong, and the IBoard feel crazy!” of Ed Ed building after you. It’s a lie, it’s wrong, and I feel crazy!” building you. aa lie, wrong, II feel crazy!” Once was Teaneck, New Jersey public school was building after you. aaIt’s It’s lie, it’s it’s wrong, and feel crazy!” Once it itafter was clear clear Teaneck, New Jerseyand public school was Once it wasfor clear aa Teaneck, New Jersey public school was Once it clear New Jersey public school being named Mrs. Theodora Smiley was being Once named it was wasfor clear Mrs. a Teaneck, Teaneck, Theodora New Smiley JerseyLacey, Lacey, publicNanette Nanette school was was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette was being named for Mrs. Theodora Smiley Lacey, Nanette in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she being in awe.named “This is forwonderful! Mrs. Theodora How did Smiley thisLacey, come Nanette about?” was was she in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she in awe. “This is wonderful! How did this come about?” she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had in awe.Several asked. “This iscolleagues, wonderful!friends, How did andthis board come members about?” had she asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had asked. Several colleagues, friends, and board members had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with asked.discussing been Several colleagues, renaming friends, the school and and board theymembers came up with had been discussing renaming the school and they came up with been discussing renaming the school and came with all sorts of including Angelou. Teaneck teachbeen all sorts discussing of names names renaming including theMaya Maya school Angelou. and they they Teaneck came up up teachwith all sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachall sorts of names including Maya Angelou. Teaneck teachers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey all sorts ers MaryofJoyce names Laqui including and Inez Maya Khan Angelou. nominated Teaneck Mrs. teachLacey ers Mary Joyce Laqui and Inez Khan nominated Mrs. Lacey ers Joyce Laqui Inez Lacey as notable, resident of township. “Don’t get ersaaMary as Mary notable, Joycelongtime longtime Laqui and and resident Inez Khan Khan of the thenominated nominated township. Mrs. Mrs. “Don’t Lacey get as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get as a notable, longtime resident of the township. “Don’t get excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renamas a notable, excited,” she was longtime told, “but resident your of name the was township. put in for “Don’t renamget excited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renamexcited,” she was told, “but your name was put in for renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, excited,” ing Eugene sheField was told, School.” “but Mary your name Joyce was Laqui putfelt in for otherwise, renaming Eugene Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt otherwise, ing Field School.” Mary Joyce Laqui felt telling Nanette, no, going to named after ing Eugene telling Eugene Nanette, Field“Oh “Oh School.” no, it’s it’s Mary going Joyce to be be Laqui named felt otherwise, otherwise, after your your telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named after your telling Nanette, “Oh no, it’s going to be named mother if it’s the last thing we do.” mother if it’s the“Oh last thing wegoing do.” to be named after telling Nanette, no, it’s after your your mother if it’s the last thing we do.” mother mother if if it’s it’s the the last last thing thing we we do.” do.”
Archie Archie Louis Louis Lacey, Lacey, Archie Louis Lacey, Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Archie Louis Lacey, Sr. holding Archie, Sr. holding Archie, Sr. holding Archie, Jr. with Theodora Sr. with holding Archie, Jr. Theodora Jr. with Theodora Jr. Theodora and Dr. Jr. with with Theodora and Dr. Martin Martin and Dr. Martin and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr.King, Martin Luther Jr. Luther King, Jr. Luther King, after Archie, Jr.’s LutherArchie, King, Jr. Jr. after Jr.’s after Archie, Jr.’s after Archie, christening after Archie, Jr.’s Jr.’s christening christening christening christening
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The Positive Community September 2020
“I’m “I’m thinking thinking to to myself, myself, ‘We ‘We still still have have aa school school named named “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have aa thinking school named “I’m thinking to myself, ‘We still have school for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be about for“I’m Thomas thinking Jefferson to myself, so we might ‘We still wanthave to bea thinking school named named about for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about for Thomas Jefferson so we might want to be thinking about renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and for Thomasthat,’” renaming Jefferson Nanette so we recalled. might want “They to be called thinking meabout and renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and renaming that,’” Nanette recalled. “They called me and said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to renaming said the Teaneck that,’” Board Nanette of Education recalled. “They unanimously called voted me and to said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to said the Teaneck Board of Education unanimously voted to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey said the Teaneck rename Eugene Field BoardSchool of Education the Theodora unanimously Smiley voted Lacey to rename Eugene Field School the Theodora Smiley Lacey rename Eugene the Theodora Smiley School II said, ‘This is comprehension.’” renameand School and Eugene said,Field Field ‘ThisSchool School is beyond beyond themy my Theodora comprehension.’” Smiley Lacey Lacey School and II said, ‘This is beyond my comprehension.’” School and ‘This is my So how of aa school after School So that’s that’s and the the I said, said, how ‘This of naming naming is beyond beyond school my comprehension.’” comprehension.’” after aa Black Black woman woman So that’s the how of naming a school after aa Black woman So that’s the how of naming a school after Black woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is in Teaneck, So that’s the NJ. how Nowof fornaming the why. a school Theodora afterLacey a Black is nothing nothing woman in Teaneck, NJ. Now for the why. Theodora Lacey is nothing in NJ. for Theodora Lacey is short of in the Teaneck Public School system in Teaneck, short Teaneck, of aa legend legend NJ. Now Now in both both for the the thewhy. why. Teaneck Theodora Public Lacey School is nothing nothing system short of aatownship legend in both the Teaneck Public School system short of legend in both the Teaneck Public School system and the itself. She and her late husband, Archie, shortthe and of atownship legend in itself. bothShe theand Teaneck her late Public husband, SchoolArchie, system and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, and the township itself. She and her late husband, Archie, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, and thetotownship moved Teaneckitself. in theShe lateand 1950s herwith late their husband, oldestArchie, child, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, moved to Teaneck in the late 1950s with their oldest child, Archie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Armoved to Archie, Jr. Teaneck Theodorainhad the taught late 1950s school with in their Louisiana oldestand child, ArArchie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and ArArchie, Jr. Theodora had taught school in Louisiana and Archie, Sr. was a professor at Hunter College. I am proud to Archie, chie, Sr.Jr.was Theodora a professor had at taught Hunter school College. in Louisiana I am proud and Arto chie, Sr. was aa professor at Hunter College. II and am proud to chie, Sr. was professor at Hunter College. am proud to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ attended chie, say I was Sr. was raised a professor and educated at Hunter in Teaneck, College. NJI and am proud attended to say I was raised and educated in Teaneck, NJ and attended say educated in Teaneck, Teaneck, NJ and and attended Longfellow, the elementary school where Lacey taught say II was Longfellow, was raised raised the and and elementary educated school in where Mrs. Mrs. NJ Lacey attended taught Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught Longfellow, elementary school Mrs. Lacey in the A woman, we all who Mrs. Lacey in the 1980s. 1980s.the A beautiful beautiful woman, wewhere all knew knew who Mrs.taught Lacey Longfellow, the elementary school where Mrs. Lacey taught in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey in the 1980s. A beautiful woman, we all knew who Mrs. Lacey was as a teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of in the was as 1980s. a teacher. A beautiful She waswoman, kind, but we she all knew had expectations who Mrs. Lacey of was as aa teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of was as teacher. She was kind, but she had expectations of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work was students. her as a teacher. SheShe was was fair,kind, and she butdemanded she had expectations that you work of her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work her students. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. heryour to students. potential. She was fair, and she demanded that you work to your potential. to potential. II recall the to your your potential. recall the day day II found found out out about about Mrs. Mrs. Lacey’s Lacey’s life life outside outside I recall the day IIin found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life outside I recall the day found out about Mrs. Lacey’s life of teaching. I was sixth grade and we were having Black of teaching. I recall theI day was Iin found sixthout grade about andMrs. we Lacey’s were having life outside outside Black of teaching. II was in sixth grade and we were having Black of teaching. was in sixth grade and we were having History Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmof teaching. History Month I was assembly. in sixthPrepared grade and forwe a slide were show having orBlack Black filmHistory Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmHistory Month assembly. Prepared for a slide show or filmstrip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and History strip featuring MonthHarriet assembly. Tubman; Prepared Martin for aLuther slide show King,or Jr.;filmand strip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and strip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; strip featuring Harriet Tubman; Martin Luther King, Jr.; and and www.thepositivecommunity.com
