Thaddeus S. Lott Sr. facts for kids

Thaddeus Scott Lott Sr. (born May 30, 1934 – died October 22, 2015) was a famous teacher and school leader from Houston, Texas. He became well-known across the country in 1991. This happened because of the amazing results he achieved at Mabel B. Wesley Elementary School. He used a special teaching method called direct instruction.

Early Life and Education

Thaddeus Lott grew up in a neighborhood in Houston called Acres Homes. He loved learning and went to Texas Southern University. There, he earned two degrees: a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education. Later, he also received special honorary doctoral degrees from Liberty University and Williams College. These degrees recognized his important work and achievements.

His Career as a School Leader

Mr. Lott started his teaching career in 1959 at Highland Heights Elementary School. This school was part of the Houston Independent School District. By 1975, he became the principal of Wesley Elementary School. Under his leadership, the school saw incredible improvements.

Amazing Results at Wesley Elementary

At Wesley Elementary, Mr. Lott focused on improving how students learned to read. In 1980, only 18% of students could read well. But by 1985, this number jumped to 85%! By 1996, every single third-grader at Wesley Elementary passed the reading part of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test. This was a huge success.

Working with Important Leaders

Mr. Lott's success at Wesley Elementary caught the attention of many important people. In 1994, George W. Bush, who later became the President of the United States, visited Wesley Elementary. At the time, Bush was running to be the governor of Texas. He even announced his plan to improve education from Wesley Elementary. Later, in 1996, Bush worked with Mr. Lott to create the Texas Reading Initiative.

Rod Paige, who was the superintendent of the Houston Independent School District in 1994, also supported Mr. Lott. He helped create the first charter school system in Texas. This system included Wesley, Highland Heights, and Osborne Elementary schools, all supervised by Mr. Lott. He retired from the school district in 2002.

His Lasting Impact

Thaddeus Lott's work had a big impact on education. In 1998, he received the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. This award honors people who do great things for their community.

Mr. Lott's teaching methods and achievements at Wesley Elementary inspired others. For example, Baker Mitchell started The Roger Bacon Academy in North Carolina. This academy runs schools that use Mr. Lott's successful teaching model. They combine his methods with traditional learning styles.

See also

• History of African Americans in Houston