When Lena Warders first went to work in an elementary school in Indiana in 1940, she was one of the first African American females employed by the school. And although she had worked hard to pay for her degree in education, she was first instructed to work as a teacher’s aid.

“If you were the color that I was, you didn’t get to do things other people did,” Lena recalls.

She remembers the teacher she assisted crying when she received Lena as an aid. She was upset because of the color of Lena’s skin. After the women spent the year together teaching the children and bonding, Lena proved herself and received her dream – the chance to run her own classroom. But after seeing what a wonderful person and dedicated teacher Lena was, the teacher was reluctant to give up her assistant.

“I have to laugh when I remember working with her,” says Lena. “She cried at first because she didn’t want me, then she cried after because she didn’t want me to go.”

After teaching for five years, she became the principal in charge of 100 children at what is now John F. Kennedy Montessori Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky. When she retired in 1976, they wanted to name the school after her. Struck by the recent tragic death of President Kennedy, Lena suggested they name the school for him instead.

Warders now lives at Atria St. Matthews and spends her days enjoying activities with the other residents. Although her picture still hangs on the wall at John F. Kennedy Montessori School, she had not been back since she retired. Upon learning of her desire to see the school again, the staff at Atria St. Matthews went to work organizing a visit.

Warders finally got her day of glory on Wednesday, February 24 when she was the focus of the JFK Montessori School Black History Month celebration. Four local television news affiliates turned out to document Warders’ visit, and she was nothing but thrilled about the experience. Current JFK principal Opal Dawson, who hung the picture of Lena Warders in the school several years ago, welcomed Lena back with open arms.

“The children were so well-behaved,” says Lena of her visit. “Getting 400 people or children in one spot is not easy to do, and they were on their best behavior.”

Although the trials that Lena endured in her effort to educate children took place many years ago, her photograph on the wall at John F. Kennedy Montessori Elementary School will continue to inspire children and adults alike for many years to come.

Please click below to see news coverage of Lena’s visit to the school where Lena fearlessly led students in lessons of self-betterment and equality.

http://www.fox41.com/Global/story.asp?S=12036100

http://www.wlky.com/education/22658088/detail.html

http://www.whas11.com/community/Black-History-Month-Lena-Warders-85229927.html