Tribute To Teacher Caroline Cole,
Former Principal, Trinity Parish Day School,
Former Director of Kindergarten, BWHES

BY

Handel C. Kiazolue Diggs, NC, BWHAA
Saturday, February 13, 2010

To Comfort, Foday, Dora, Clifford and your entire family, we stand with you in the loss of your mother and grandmother. Today, we are all Coles sharing your grief. As some may say to you be strong, I say to you in the words of Isaiah 41: 10 – Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

What manner of woman was Teacher Cole? She shaped our lives, mentored us, disciplined us and she groomed us with a solid foundation. I speak this; I know this because I was her student in the BWHES kindergarten class. As Principal of Trinity Parish School (TPS), the forerunner to BWHES, kindergarten and first grade teacher, she transformed our lives enabling us to give back to our Alma Mater. Her children and former students are doing just that; daughter Comfort as President of Midwest Chapter and former 1st Vice National Chairman BWHAA and from the grapevine, that is not her last act! Daughter Dora is board member for the Midwest Chapter and a host of others here today and others not present. Foday is a stalwart supporter and Friend of BWHAA. Teacher Cole was a remarkable woman not just because of the long years of her life but more profoundly, because of the life of her years. We are the examples of the life of her years.

Teacher Cole was the consummate teacher and so, what is our response to this distinguished educator? Fellow Spartans, just standing in a hollow tribute will do injustice to this venerable teacher. So therefore, our teacher salary assistance project will be renamed the Teacher Caroline Cole $17,000 Teacher Salary Supplement. I have directed the webmaster to make the change immediately. Secondly, I will challenge the association to ensure that by 2012, in partnership with the BWHES, no teacher will earn less than $100 a month. This will be our challenge, this will be our pledge. Let us honor her befittingly by supporting and transforming our Alma Mater through annual convention registration whether you attend convention or not. Let this be our charge.

In those early years of BWHES and in the iconic presence of Teacher Cole, Principals, Emmanuel W. Johnson, E.G. W. King, III and J. Wah-Doe Bedell Sr., the words of John Monsell (1863) Fight The Good Fight permeated the mind, body and soul of Spartans and still ring true today.

“Fight the good fight with all thy might
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy King
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face,
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the path, and Christ the prize”.

Teacher Cole, former Principal TPS, Director of Kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade teacher, BWHES, thank you for your service to the Nation of Sparta. You’ve run your race and Christ is now your prize. Rest in peace as you rejoin Father King and all those dynamic Spartans who have gone before.