Eugene Eubanks facts for kids
Eugene Emerson Eubanks (born June 6, 1938 – died November 20, 2011) was an American professor and school leader. He worked hard to make schools fair for all students, especially through school desegregation. This means helping schools become places where students of different backgrounds learn together.
He was a professor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City's School of Education for many years. He even became the first African American dean of that school. In 1984, a U.S. Federal Court asked him to help the Kansas City Public Schools become more integrated. He also advised on many other school integration cases and led the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
Early Life and Learning
Eugene Eubanks was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania on June 6, 1938. His parents were Nelson and Emily Jackson Eubanks. He went to Meadville High School, where he played basketball.
After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force. He served as a math teacher and also analyzed Russian voices. After leaving the Air Force, Eubanks went back to college.
He earned his first bachelor's degree in 1963 from Edinboro State Teachers College. Then, he taught math and worked as a principal in Cleveland Public Schools. During this time, he also earned a master's degree in school administration from John Carroll University.
Later, Eubanks earned a second master's degree and a doctorate degree in education from Michigan State University. He finished his doctorate in 1972. His special project was about how teachers felt about their jobs in schools that were separated by race.
Working in Education
Eubanks started working at the University of Delaware as an assistant professor. In 1974, he moved to the University of Missouri, Kansas City. There, he became the assistant dean of the School of Education.
In 1980, he became the dean of the School of Education. He was the first African American to hold this important position.
In 1983, the Kansas City, Missouri, School District asked Eubanks to review its high schools. His report showed that the schools were not doing well. Students had low reading and test scores, and many were dropping out.
In 1984, partly because of Eubanks' report, a U.S. federal court made a big decision. The court said that the Kansas City, Missouri, School District was unfairly separated by race. The court then chose a group to watch over the district's efforts to integrate. Eubanks was chosen to lead this group.
In 1994, another court case happened in Rockford, Illinois. The court again chose Eubanks to help oversee school integration efforts there.
Eubanks also served as president of the American Association of Colleges and Teachers in Education. He was also an editor for a special magazine called the Journal of the National Alliance of Black School Educators.
Later Years
Eugene Eubanks retired from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 2003. When he retired, the University honored him with special titles. He was called a professor emeritus and dean emeritus. This means he was still recognized for his great work even after he stopped working full-time.
Even after retiring from the university, he continued to teach high school math. Eugene Eubanks passed away on November 20, 2011. He is buried in Meadville's Greendale Cemetery.
