Virginia Randolph

The daughter of former slaves, Randolph became a teacher at age 16. As a teacher at the Mountain Road School in Virginia's Henrico County, Randolph taught her students woodworking, sewing, cooking, and gardening, as well as academics. In 1908 she was named the first Jeanes Supervisor Industrial Teacher. In this position she oversaw 23 schools in Henrico County, training rural Black teachers and improving the curriculum at each of the schools. She chronicled her progress in the Henrico Plan, which became a reference for many Southern schools. The Virginia Randolph Training School opened in 1915 and expanded to include dormitories. The school is now called the Virginia Randolph Education Center.