Roosevelt High School Principals: Personal Reflections

Graduates of Roosevelt High School remember their experiences, specifically the principals. Bernard Watson introduces the other authors’ personal reflections by describing the environment, his relationships with the principals and his fellow students, and the long-term effects of the school on its graduates. Following this introduction, Randall C. Morgan remembers his grandfather, H. Theo Tatum, who everyone knew and respected and who crafted a sense of excellence in the students. The other two principals—Warren Anderson and Robert Eugene Jones—are remembered by their children. Rosemary Davis remembers her father, Anderson, as being energized by teaching, learning, and interacting with teachers and students. He believed in producing well-rounded students, those with both physical as well as intellectual skills. Byron Jones remembers his father, Robert Jones, as also having a passion for teaching and leading. He honored students’ achievements and increased the number who graduated with honors. These personal memories support the importance of leadership within an elite African-American school’s culture.