A campaign to raise funds to name the Harper Elementary School auditorium for the first African American teacher in 1960 in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, begins Aug. 1.
Miller is an educator who began as the first African American teacher at Harper Elementary School, teaching English and Language Arts, and who retired as principal in 2001. In between her time at Harper, she directed the first federally funded “Right to Read†program at Glenwood and counseled students at Reitz High School. Mrs. Miller also served as an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech Community College and the University of Evansville. She is a member of CYPRESS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and active at the Evansville African American Museum. Miller is considered a pioneer and bridge-builder for race relations, and has received the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash and the Leadership Evansville Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. She was recognized as one of EVSC’s finest in the 2010 EVSC Hall of Fame.
The campaign committee, comprised of former students and friends, Becky Dumes, Brent Beeler, Pat Shoulders and Jon Siau, are urging others who remember Miller and would like to give back to contribute. Proceeds will benefit Harper Elementary School by supporting teachers and students in the classroom, the reading program and library services.
Donations are being accepted in a variety of ways including donating online at www.evscfoundation.org/give-today or by mail to EVSC Foundation, “ATTN Mattie Miller Campaign,†951 Walnut Street, Evansville IN 47713.
For additional information, contact Ann Burnworth, EVSC chief development officer, at 812-435-0984 or ann.burnworth@evsc.k12.in.us.
