Dr Rita F Pierson (nee Walker)
Rita Pierson gave one of the most powerful Ted Talks on education. Every Child Needs a Champion has become a motto for countless educators. She also led workshops on the importance of educating young African American boys.
27 October 1951
28 June 2013
Houston, Texas, United States
American nationality and belongs to white coloured American ethnicity.
She may have been of African American and French descent.
Usually list of achievements/ important moments/ items in their life alongside dates
1968 – 1969 – crowned Miss Washington for the school year
1969 – Rita graduated from Booker T. Washington High School
1972 – she pursued higher education on a full scholarship at Elmhurst College in Chicago, Illinois and graduated at the top of her class
1997 – aha! Process consultant working in many sectors of a community to create a common language and understanding
2006 – published Teaching on Your Feet: 10 Lessons on Being a Master Teacher
2013 – over one million online viewers watched the TED Talks.
Dr Rita F Pierson, the daughter of Hazel and Julius Walker, was born 27 October 1951 in Houston, Texas.
Rita Pierson was a professional educator since 1972 but her legacy and impact in education continue to spread far beyond school walls. As a native of Houston, Texas, Rita Pearson was an ambassador for school/community involvement and was a positive force for children and teachers. She called on teachers to build relationships with their students no matter how challenging it would be. Pierson was known for sharing her example of gestures to bolster student self esteem in the most specific ways (ie. how she marked and graded a test). She was an antipoverty advocate and understood the importance of making a difference in her students’ lives as an educator, no matter what the cost. She believed in the power and influence of people and spent her life dedicated to the cause.
Rita Pierson was no ordinary educator. She was extraordinary and brought a little extra energy into her many years as an educator. Throughout her career, she assumed many roles including elementary, regular and special education teacher, junior high school teacher, counsellor, assistant principal, director, testing coordinator, consultant, and Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC). She has also conducted professional development training and seminars for thousands of educators for over a decade. Some of her work includes the following;
Frameworks
Understanding Poverty
Under-Resourced Learners
Engage and Graduate Your Secondary Students: Preventing Dropouts, Research-Based Strategies, Evening Workshop with Parents
Reclaiming the Classroom: Discipline and Working with Parents
Books
Hidden Rules of Class at Work
What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty.
Teaching on Your Feet: 10 lessons on being a master teacher (Audio CD) and Rita’s Stories (DVD).
However, Rita is most known for her TED Talk Every child needs a Champion where she emphasises that every child deserves a teacher who will go above and beyond to meet their needs. The following videos are some of Rita Pierson’s best speaking engagements:
Her passionate and powerful speeches moved viewers around the country and quickly became favourites to all who understand the importance of educators. We will never forget the difference Pierson made through her tireless work as both an educator of 40 years and a staunch antipoverty advocate. Thanks to her legacy and vision, we now have her inspirational words of wisdom to look back on. She is a reflection of every teacher at heart and emanates what it takes to take steps past just average instruction and into holistic teaching and education.
She was a founding member of the Brookhollow Baptist Church. She moved her membership to Christian Congregational Church to join her husband, Rev Clarence Pierson, in ministry.
Rita was absolutely devoted to loved ones, particularly her sons Carlo Akil, Kelby Dumont and her daughter, Kristin Benaye. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren, Parker Camille, Maddox Ivey and Marissa Ivey.
Rita was set to serve as Waco Independent School District’s Chief Administrative Officer of Community and Family Outreach when she died. The position would have placed Dr Pierson at the helm of a communitywide antipoverty initiative.
Credits
P is for Rita F. Pierson: Every Child Needs A Champion – The Positive Encourager
Why Educators Should Know Rita Pierson (yeseep.org)
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