Winter Street Elementary Hosting Guest Speakers for Black History Month

HAGERSTOWN, MD (February 7, 2007) – In celebration of Black History Month, Winter Street Elementary School will welcome and feature two guest speakers on Friday, February 9, 2007, from 9:20 – 11:00 a.m. Althea Michael and her brother Dwight Williams will visit 3rd and 4th grade students and share their personal experiences growing up during segregation and the civil rights movement.

Winter Street Principal Matthew Semler said, “We’re so proud to welcome our special guests, who will bring real life experiences and insights about these important issues to our students.”

Ms. Michael grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and New York City, and now lives in Hagerstown. She and two women were the first African American women to be stationed at what had been an all-white Army base at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She received her training as a medical technician in the Army and later became a nurse.

Mr. Williams graduated from America’s first black college, Bethune-Cookman. He taught for 24 years in elementary schools in Daytona Beach, while also spending 13 years teaching Bethune-Cookman students how to teach. Upon his retirement he came to Hagerstown.