CHARTER MEMBERS

Bio to come

Bio to come

Bio to come

Bio to come

Bio to come

Bio to come

b. 1938

Eva Goins Simmons has created a legacy of dedicated support for the youth of the community for more than 50 years. Starting as an elementary school teacher in 1964, when the district only had 54,000 students. Eva's 37-year career with the Clark County School District included her contributions as a teacher, principal, assistant personnel manager and area superintendent. In 2001, the CCSD Board of School Trustees recognized her outstanding contributions when they voted to name one of the new schools that were in the planning stages of being built after her. Located in North Las Vegas, Simmons Elementary School opened its doors in 2004 and now has more than 800 students. Many of the students know Eva due to the frequent visits she makes to help them improve their reading skills and to encourage them to learn and have aspirations for greatness. Through her own resources and network of supporters, Eva has donated books, bikes, scooters, and helmets to the school to use as learning resources and incentives for achievement. She has also supported the school establishing a garden and along with Texas Station.

Bio to come

ΩΩ b. 1933 d. 2012

Dorothy Mae York Taylor was educated in the public schools of Fordyce and received her high school diploma in 1951. She attended Arkansas A.M.&N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where she received a Bachelors of Science Degree in 1955. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Crossett, Arkansas. Dorothy moved to Las Vegas Nevada in 1959 and joined Zion United Methodist Church where she served as a stewardess. She later moved her membership to First A.M.E. Church. Dorothy was an educator and taught in the Clark County School District for 33 years. Dorothy received her Masters of Arts degree from UNLV and continued teaching until she retired in 1991. Dorothy was a charter member of Les Femme Douze where she enjoyed working with young ladies.

b. 1926

Helen Aileen Anderson Toland was the first African-American female principal hired in the Clark County School District, and assigned in 1965 to lead the Kit Carson Elementary School, in an area commonly known as the Westside. Helen is famously known for her community yard sales to send and keep young people in school, both in Las Vegas and South Africa. Helen's educational journey began in a one-room elementary school, with all eight grades for black children, then ultimately working as the first African-American speech correctionist for the Louisville, Kentucky School District. Her international volunteer contributions continue to include the first pre-school speech therapy program created in Kubwa-Abuja, Nigeria, for the Daughters of Charity, a Catholic Nursery School for handicapped children. Helen remains steadfast in giving hope through one-on-one outreach; she continues to make available her African Exhibits, consisting of artifacts from Senegal, Mali, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and Liberia, Zimbabwe and South African; sharing them with multicultural programs in public schools and University level students of all nationalities, with the hopes of bridging those lost cultural gaps to Africa. After leaving Kit Carson as principal, she accepted a leadership position at the Robert E. Lake Elementary, when schools began busing the 6th grade centers during the transition of student integration. In 2022, the Kit Carson Elementary School was renamed the Toland International Academy.

ΩΩ b. 1937 d. 2017

Margaret Jean York was the eigth of ten children, to the union of Mr. Lun A. York and Mrs. Pearline York in Fordyce, Arkansas. Margaret received her high school diploma in 1955 from Dallas County Training School in Fordyce. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College (currently the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1959. Margaret joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. on April 25, 1957. Margaret received her Master of Education in Elementary Education in 1973 from the University of Arizona-Tucson. Margaret was a dedicated elementary school teacher in the Clark County School District. She taught reading, science, political science, etc. from 1959 to her retirement in 1991, at Matt Kelly Elementary School and Twin Lakes Elementary School. As a child, Margaret united with St. John African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Fordyce. When First A.M.E. was organized in the Spring of 1966, Margaret was one of the 18 charter members. Margaret provided loyal and devoted service to the church in various capacities including as a class leader.