Milton Elementary honors local African American leaders

In observance of Black History Month in February, students at Milton Elementary School spent time meeting with and researching African American leaders from the local community. Their research was then presented and displayed throughout the building in a walk-through gallery to share with classmates, staff members, visitors and the leaders themselves.

Kindergarteners created a bulletin board honoring Lois Powell, sharing interesting facts, photos and news articles about her life. An original member of The Chantels, one of the first all-girl singing groups in the 1960s, Powell was also a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner before her retirement.

First-graders had the opportunity to interview and meet Milton Police Chief Derrick Harvey. He is the first African American police chief in Milton.

Second-graders met with Janet Maull-Martin, who is a current Cape school district board of education member, a member of the first graduating class of Cape Henlopen High School in 1970, a retired Cape Henlopen school administrator and a pastor at Prospect AME Church in Georgetown.

Third-graders did their research on Noble Prettyman, who was raised in Milton and was an actively involved member of the Cape community before his passing in 2015. He was the first African American in the Cape Region to have held two elected positions at the same time, as a member of both the Cape district school board and the Milton Town Council. His niece, Kitty Prettyman-Harmon, visited with students to provide details on his life and accomplishments.

Fourth-graders elected to research Frederick D. Thomas, for whom the district’s new middle school is named. With the school set to open in fall 2024, Principal David Frederick visited with the fourth-grade class to share his knowledge of Thomas, along with artifacts that have been given to him for use in the new school. Students learned that Frederick Thomas was the first African American teacher’s union president, and was also simultaneously a principal and teacher for seventh- and eighth-graders in the same building.

For the subjects of their research, fifth-graders selected Bill Collick and Bryan Stevenson.

Collick gave a presentation to students, and shared facts and photos with them when he visited. Students learned about his family, his successful coaching career, his extensive experience volunteering with various organizations and his role as a current Cape district school board member.

Students also put together a full timeline of accomplishments for Stevenson, a Milton native and Cape graduate most notably known for his work as founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. The Milton Historical Society team helped the fifth-graders with their research by providing various museum resources highlighting Stevenson’s life and achievements.

In addition to the six individuals researched at each grade level, students also had the chance to learn more about District 20 Rep. Stell Parker Selby, D-Milton. Students learned that Parker Selby earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology at Delaware State University and her master of education degree from University of Delaware. She taught for 34 years in the Cape Henlopen and Capital school districts, as well as at Delaware State.

Milton Elementary’s literacy teacher, Krissy Patton, spearheaded the coordination of the school-wide project and shared her example board with students, which highlighted Stell Parker Selby.

“We’re so proud of how the students embraced the project in its entirety,” said Patton. “They worked together and learned together by conducting interviews, reading articles and watching videos about their respective leaders. By documenting and sharing their stories, students have preserved a vital part of history, and honored the resilience and contributions of African American leaders in our Cape community.”

Clara Conn, Milton Elementary principal, said, “One of the best parts of this project was having our local leaders join us for a walk-through of the gallery. The students were excited to share their final projects with each of them, and we’re very happy they could join us to see the results of the students’ hard work!”