Aquilina Howell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aquilina C. Howell
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| Assistant Superintendent of Leon County Schools | |
| In office 1981–1985 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 3, 1917 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | January 13, 2000 (aged 82) Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Spouse | Samuel Felton Howell |
| Alma mater | Florida A&M University |
| Website | [1] |
Aquilina Celia Casañas Howell (May 3, 1917 – January 13, 2000) was a very important leader in education. She was the first woman to become Assistant Superintendent of Leon County Schools in Florida. She held this job from 1981 until she retired in 1985. Aquilina Howell is remembered for helping schools in Tallahassee become integrated peacefully. This means she helped bring students of all races together in the same schools. She was very skilled at bringing different groups of people together.
Early Life and Education
Aquilina Casañas was born on May 3, 1917, in Tallahassee, Florida. She was the oldest of four children. Her family lived in a home that is now known as the Lewis and Lucretia Taylor House. This house is so important that it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Aquilina went to public schools in Leon County. She earned her first college degree from Florida A&M University in 1938. Later, she earned a master's degree from New York University in 1956. She also continued her studies at Boston University and the University of Chicago.
On December 20, 1941, she married Samuel Felton Howell. They had two daughters, Carmen and Sonya.
Career in Education
Aquilina Howell had an amazing career in education that lasted over 43 years. She worked as a teacher, a guidance counselor, and an administrator. She taught subjects like social studies, Spanish, and English.
She was known for her strong leadership. She helped solve disagreements among school leaders. She also advised community leaders and worked with parents. During the 1960s and 1970s, she played a key role in helping Tallahassee schools integrate. This was a challenging time, but she guided the community through it successfully. When she retired, she had the special honor of being the first woman to be Assistant Superintendent in the Leon County School District.
Legacy and Honors
Aquilina Howell was highly respected for her hard work and dedication. To honor her, the Leon County School Board named a building after her. On November 28, 1995, they dedicated the Aquilina C. Howell Instructional Services Center.
She was also honored along with three other community leaders. On February 20, 1993, the Carter-Howell-Strong Park was named. This park recognized her leadership and service to her hometown, especially the Frenchtown area. Later, on December 11, 2009, a street was named Aquilina Howell Street in her memory.
Death
Aquilina Howell passed away on January 13, 2000, at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. She was 82 years old. She had been ill for some time after having a stroke in 1995.
Images for kids
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Aquilina C. Howell at her office door.
