February 21 is the birthday of Barbara Jordan, who would have been 78 years old today. This morning, I joined the students and staff of Barbara Jordan Early College Prep Elementary School in celebrating the life and legacy of this courageous leader. AISD Trustee Ann Teich and many parents and friends attended, too. Students presented songs and performances in honor of their school’s namesake. And of course, we all sang Happy Birthday!
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| Shirley Franklin, left, former Mayor of Atlanta, was our special guest speaker. Principal Diana Vallejo and Tristyn McElroy. |
These are some of the thoughts I shared with our students:
Barbara Jordan believed in the power and importance of education. She said, “Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment.” Barbara Jordan didn’t have much money growing up in Houston. But she graduated from high school back in 1952, went to college and then went to law school. Education paved the way for her future success.
Barbara Jordan proved that one person can make a big change in this world. When our country was in crisis in the 1970s and it looked like our system of law laid out in the Constitution was threatened, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan was a brave and brilliant leader, who helped preserve the Constitutional protections for the American people.
She is one of the best people I can think of to name a school after and to serve as a role model for your generation and future generations. Happy Birthday, Barbara Jordan!