And the winner is…
After weeks of waiting, the winners of the Doors to History Competition recently were announced and seventh-grade office clerk Ms. Flounory won first place.
Spanish teacher Dr. Rissler and science teacher Dr. Jackson scored a tie for second and journalism teacher Mr. Parke placed third.
The Parent Teacher Student Association, PSTA, has offered to provide a pizza party for the first-place winner, ice cream social for the second-place winners, and a popcorn party for third-place winner.
This is the third year Jackson has organized the contest. He suggested themes for decorating classroom doors like “Black Excellence,” “Young, Gifted and Black” and “Black Inventors.”
Jackson said that the contest highlights the contributions of Black individuals in American society and to teach students about their importance in history.
“One of the main things though why we are doing the door decorating is to celebrate Black History Month,” he said. “We feel that one way to have students interacting with the history of African Americans is to see what ancestors of African Americans have done that have led up to this time.”
Flounory decorated the seventh grade office with the theme of Back hair. Inventor and entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker is prominently displayed because she created specialized hair products for African American customers. She also was the first American woman to become a self-made millionaire.
Jackson said that his first period class showed the most interest in decorating their classroom door. They chose the theme “African Americans Making a Difference” and researched key individuals’ biographies. They then printed out their pictures and put them on Jackson’s door.
Parke chose the theme “Black Excellence” and incorporated journalists into the theme. His class highlighted important Black figures in journalism like former St. Pete Times writer Peggy Peterman, radio host Steve Harvey, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Gordon Parks and trailblazing writer and publisher Ida B. Wells.
Dr. Rissler chose the “Contribution of Black Latino Musicians” as her theme. The important figures on her door include hit singers and performers including Celia Cruz, Cardi B, Betsayda Machado and Princess Nokia.
JHop students took notice of the decorated doors and picked the seventh-grade office as their favorite in the competition.
Seventh-grader Ally Story said that she thought Flounory’s door “is decorated very nicely.”
Stella Plotnick, seventh-grader, said the liked the competition and picked Flounory’s door as the best of all the entries.
“I really like it because I think it is important to show Black History Month,” she said.
Though there are prizes for winning the contest, Jackson said that the goal is about educating JHop students.
“The important thing to encourage scholars, students, to embrace African American history,” he said.
