Area residents will have the opportunity to hear from local experts on black history at Tallahassee School of Math and Science’s (TSMS) first speaker series located at the school’s gymnasium on Thursday at 6 p.m.
“As we near the end of Black History Month, many have taken the time to learn about African American history in the U.S., but we want to make sure the Tallahassee community also is educated about the deep heritage we have in our own backyard,” said Ahmet Temel, principal of TSMS.
The event’s panelists will include Althemese Barnes, founder and executive director at the Riley House, the first community-based African American historic museum in Tallahassee, and 1961graduate of original Lincoln High School in Frenchtown; Miaisha Mitchell, executive director of the Greater Frenchtown Area Governor’s Revitalization Council Front Porch Florida and a long-time resident of Smokey Hollow, the historic African American community just east of downtown Tallahassee and west of Myers Park; Annie Harris, owner of the ASH Gallery in Frenchtown, retired Leon County superintendent for teaching and learning and resident of Frenchtown; and Darryl Gilliam Scott, chairperson of the Greater Frenchtown Area Governor’s Revitalization Council Front Porch Florida, past president of the Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, retired librarian from the public and special library system and Frenchtown resident.
“This group of African American women are among the most well-known in our community for their passion for black history and we are thrilled to host them at our school and provide a platform upon which they can share their knowledge, as well as their experiences growing up in Tallahassee,” said Temel. “As one of the most diversely populated schools in the Big Bend area, we encourage a diversity of perspective and are honored to host these panelists to exemplify our vision of fostering life-long learning in every child, parent and community member.”
A tour of the school, located at 3434 N. Monroe St., will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, with the panel immediately following at 6:30 p.m. The Black History in Tallahassee panel is a free event.
Founded in Leon County in 2015, TSMS serves students within the entire county and provides a well-rounded elementary and middle school (K–8) education focusing on STEM and reading. TSMS is now accepting students for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year through March 1. Parents may enroll their children on the Admission page of the school’s website.
To learn more about TSMS and to RSVP for the event, visit http://schoolofmathandscience.org.
