June 24, 2004: Headlines: COS - Peru: Obituaries: Omaha World Herald: A new school in Paramount, CA has been named after the late Peru RPCV Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Peru: Peace Corps Peru: The Peace Corps in Peru: June 24, 2004: Headlines: COS - Peru: Obituaries: Omaha World Herald: A new school in Paramount, CA has been named after the late Peru RPCV Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-53-195.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.53.195) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 10:36 am: Edit Post

A new school in Paramount, CA has been named after the late Peru RPCV Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students

A new school in Paramount, CA has been named after the late Peru RPCV Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students

A new school in Paramount, CA has been named after the late Peru RPCV Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students

California school will hail Nebraska native

BY EMILY GERSEMA


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A California school district is honoring a Nebraska-born educator who made her mark teaching generations of schoolchildren.

A new school in Paramount, in the Los Angeles area, has been named after the late Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students.

Jackson was born in Syracuse, Neb., in 1894 and began teaching at a one-room school in Boone County, Neb., after graduating from high school.

In 1929 she and her family headed for California. She studied at the University of Southern California to obtain teaching credentials there.

She landed a job at Paramount in 1946. She became a principal three years later and held that position until 1960, Superintendent Jay Wilbur said.

Retirement was brief. Wilbur said that after a stint with the Peace Corps in Peru, Jackson returned to Paramount in 1969 to teach English to adult immigrants.

"When she turned 99, they told her she had to retire," said June Murty, a friend of Jackson's who lives in Bellflower, Calif. Even then, "a lot of people would go right to her house for class with her."

Murty said Jackson continued to hold class at her home until 1996. She died a year later. She was 102.

Wilbur said the school board recently approved a suggestion to name the school after Jackson. Wilbur is trying to track down relatives to invite them to the opening, which will take place in a few months.

Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

Copyright ©2004 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or distributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.




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Story Source: Omaha World Herald

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Peru; Obituaries

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By kristin chan (pool-71-113-24-76.sttlwa.dsl-w.verizon.net - 71.113.24.76) on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 8:41 pm: Edit Post

yea!!! jackson i went to that school... it's so cool


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