Princess D. Whitfield · 1990 Honoree

Something exciting happened at Hine Junior School. It happened eight years ago, when Princess D. Whitfield became the Principal. She came into a school which was considered a difficult challenge for the most qualified administrator. Disenchanted, pessimistic teachers... apathetic parents... insufficient text books and supplies... and students with low self-esteem resulting in erratic class attendance and  irregular school attendance! All of this in a physical plant that, someone said, “resembled an abandoned factory.” But, Princess Whitfield caused something to happen which changed the negative image, “Horrible Hine,” to a positive one, “The Thrill of Capitol Hill.”

What happened? She brought a concern for young people. “She really cares about us,” one student said. She brought a double measure of determination and talent. She brought a desire to work with, to encourage, and to support a discouraged staff.

As a result we have today in Hine Junior High School a model for establishing educational order in troubled, urban schools. To this end her work has been cited in the U.S. Office of Education’s Schools That Work: Educating Disadvantaged Youth (October 1987); in an article, Improved Student Performance Cannot Be Produced Overnight, by William Bennett; and in an editorial by Ronald D. White on the editorial page of the Washington Post, A Principal Tries to Fight Back, (April 1989). In addition, she was featured in the WETA documentary (April 24, 1989), Establishing Education Order, and in a Reader's Digest article, Lessons from Great Schools.

Here are some specifics! Computers have been integrated into the total curriculum. A program of peer counseling has been instituted. A Partner-in-Education has been established with the U.S. Department of Transportation providing a host of volunteers for one-on-one tutoring, job shadowing, as well as surrogate parenting. A Junior High Preparatory program (a school within a school) has been put in place. Hine dollar bills are awarded for good citizenship, and these can be redeemed to purchase T-shirts and the like. The first PRIDE Club (Parents’ Resource Institute for Drug Education) on a Junior High level has been formed at Hine, sponsored by DOT’s Partner in Education program and CHAMPS. In the process, the school has grown to a student body of 59 faculty members and student body of 734. And much more!

Princess Whitfield is a Washingtonian, born, reared and educated here. In preparation for a career in education she has earned a Master of Arts degree from Trinity College and has taken advantage of graduate opportunities in English, French, and Education at the university of Miami, at Kansas State University and at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and the mother of three children.

We are proud that we can honor her tonight.