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| Historic
Site List |
Parks
Locations |
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Location: Orange Avenue and 32nd Street |
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Emma
E. Booker, a pioneer Black educator was teaching in Sarasota's
public school for Negro children in the 1920s. By 1918 she was
principal of Sarasota Grammar School which held classes in rented
halls. The Julius Rosenwald Fund helped build a school at present
day Seventh St. and Lemon Ave. which opened in 1924-25 with
eight grades. The school later was renamed in honor of Emma
Booker who attended college during summers for over 20 years
to earn her Bachelor's degree in 1937. Under Principal J. R.
Dixon, grades were added and the first senior class of Booker
High School graduated in 1935.
The Black community gradually expanded into the Newtown area
with schools following. In 1939 Booker High School classes and
the Rosenwald building were relocated to a site near here adjoining
an elementary school. By the late 1940s when Roland Rogers was
principal, the Booker Grammar School was moved here and the
School Board of Sarasota County consolidated schools on the
Newtown campus. Rogers led the way to academic accreditation
and construction of modern buildings. The campus name continues
to perpetuate the contributions of Emma Booker. Many graduates
of the Booker schools returned to teach in the Sarasota County
School system.
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