Beverly J. Martin
Beverly Jane Martin (January 3, 1935 – July 19, 1993) was a nationally-recognized educator, school administrator, and community leader in Ithaca, New York.
Early years and education[edit]
Martin was born in Williamstown, New Jersey and lived in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City as a young child. She moved to Ithaca and attended the Ithaca City School District, where she was president of the senior class of Ithaca High School, graduating in 1953. She earned a B.A. in sociology from Cornell University in 1957 and took several graduate level classes.[1]
Career[edit]
She spent 36 years working in the Ithaca City School District. After several years as a teacher and reading specialist, she became principal of the Central Elementary School in 1968 and the first Black administrator in the school district's history.[1][2] As a teacher, she encouraged innovative and experimental teaching ideas, including a collaboration with Benjamin Nichols of Cornell University to bring real-world hands-on science experiments into her classroom.[3] As principal, she oversaw the creation of a volunteer-led science discovery room that later became the Sciencenter.[4]
In 1978, she became the school district's first director of affirmative action, and later expanded the title to director of affirmative action and intercultural relations services. She was also the district's ombudsman. In 1992, the Central Elementary School in the Ithaca City School District where she attended and taught was renamed Beverly J. Martin Elementary School.[5]
Active in the local community, Martin served on several boards, including the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, City Zoning Board of Appeals, Ithaca Teachers Association, Ithaca Council of Camp Fire Girls, Ithaca Recreation Council, American Association of University Women, Social Service League, Southside Community Center, and the United Way of Tompkins County. She was a member of the Cayuga Temple of Daughters, Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Club Essence, the NAACP, and National Urban League.[1][5]
Honors and Awards[1][5][edit]
- Delta Kappa Gamma
- Kappa Delta Epsilon
- Pi Lambda Theta
- Ford Foundation Fellowship
- Delta Sigma Theta Alumni Chapter Outstanding Community Service Award (1990)
- National Alliance of Black School Educators Award for Excellence in Teaching (1990)
- Tompkins County Human Rights Commission Award (1991)
- The Knight's of Endeavor Achievement Award (1992)
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "For Beverly Martin, Central Is 'Home'". The Ithaca Journal. 1968-06-25.
- ↑ "Cornell notables are featured in photographic exhibit". The Ithaca Journal. 2005-03-27.
- ↑ Nichols, Mary D. (January 1964). "Show-Me Science" (PDF). Cornell Alumni News. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ↑ "A Brief History of the Sciencenter" (PDF). 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Obituary: Beverly J. Martin". The Ithaca Journal. 1993-07-21.
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