Bessie Evans Owens was the oldest of 8 children born to Jessie and Martha Evans.
She became East Chicago, Indiana's first African American school teacher in 1918. She retired as a principal in 1952.
Later that year, she moved to Bakersfield, CA and in 1956 was hired as a teacher at Potomac Ave School at the age of 72. She would continue to teach at Casa Loma School and Colonel Baker School before her final retirement in 1967.
In 1971 The Bakersfield City School District voted to rename Potomac Avenue School to Bessie E. Owens School.
https://www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield_life/named-after-bessie-e-owens-schools/article_b4e24352-6db9-56d3-92a2-0b22ca2fe58d.html
She became East Chicago, Indiana's first African American school teacher in 1918. She retired as a principal in 1952.
Later that year, she moved to Bakersfield, CA and in 1956 was hired as a teacher at Potomac Ave School at the age of 72. She would continue to teach at Casa Loma School and Colonel Baker School before her final retirement in 1967.
In 1971 The Bakersfield City School District voted to rename Potomac Avenue School to Bessie E. Owens School.
https://www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield_life/named-after-bessie-e-owens-schools/article_b4e24352-6db9-56d3-92a2-0b22ca2fe58d.html
Bessie Evans Owens was the oldest of 8 children born to Jessie and Martha Evans.
She became East Chicago, Indiana's first African American school teacher in 1918. She retired as a principal in 1952.
Later that year, she moved to Bakersfield, CA and in 1956 was hired as a teacher at Potomac Ave School at the age of 72. She would continue to teach at Casa Loma School and Colonel Baker School before her final retirement in 1967.
In 1971 The Bakersfield City School District voted to rename Potomac Avenue School to Bessie E. Owens School.
https://www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield_life/named-after-bessie-e-owens-schools/article_b4e24352-6db9-56d3-92a2-0b22ca2fe58d.html
She became East Chicago, Indiana's first African American school teacher in 1918. She retired as a principal in 1952.
Later that year, she moved to Bakersfield, CA and in 1956 was hired as a teacher at Potomac Ave School at the age of 72. She would continue to teach at Casa Loma School and Colonel Baker School before her final retirement in 1967.
In 1971 The Bakersfield City School District voted to rename Potomac Avenue School to Bessie E. Owens School.
https://www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield_life/named-after-bessie-e-owens-schools/article_b4e24352-6db9-56d3-92a2-0b22ca2fe58d.html
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