Bennie Dover Jackson: Her Legacy

Carol W. Kimball

Bennie Dover Jackson, born McKissick, New London's first Black Teacher
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School on Waller Street
Elected Most Outstanding Teacher in 1971

Kim11-022

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

02/26/2007

Carol W. Kimball

Bennie McKissick was born Dec. 23, 1921 in Easley, South Carolina to Mary Jane Allen, a schoolteacher and John H. McKissick a school principal and an ordained Baptist minister. Newly married, she moved to New London and, as a graduate of Clafin University with teaching experience, she ignored advice to take a domentic position. It took Bennie five years to get a substitute teacher position before becoming New London's first black full-time teacher in 1951. She became a second-grade teacher at Jennings Elementary School. After Jennings, she became head teacher at Waller School and when that school closed she taught at Winthrop School from 1973 until her 1982 retirement. At Winthrop she and Principal John Bassett pioneered a curriculum incorporating the contributions of African-Americans. She was voted Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1971 and in 1987 became a member of the New London Board of Education until her death in 1988 at the age of 66. She was the youngest of three brothers and three sisters. She received her master's degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and her 6th year certificate in administration from the University of Hartford in 1976. She and principal Jon Bassett at Winthrop School pioneered a curriculum incorporating the contributions of African-Americans. On April 19, 1992, on Waller Street, the city's new school was named Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. Bennie's son and daughter, Gloria Dover and Frank Dover Jr. attended. The school thrives today, Feb 2007, under Pincipal Jaye Wilson with a student body of 720 and a staff of 85.

Jackson, Bennie Dover (1st black teacher NL)
McKissick, Bennie (Dover Jackson)
McKissick, John H.
Allen, Mary Jane
McKissick, Frank
Bassett, John
Racette, Rene J.
Dover, Gloria
Dover, Frank Jr.
Bessette, Marianne
Sherman, Barbara
Wilson, Jaye

Black History curriculum
Black heroine
New London's first black teacher
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School
Clafin University
Jennings Elementary School
Waller School
Winthrop School
educator
Eastern Connecticut State University at Willimantic
University of Hartford
African Americans
John Bassett Media Center