The significance of black history has been a little more real for students at Roxhill Elementary School this month.

Every February, during Black History Month, students open their history books to learn about important African American figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall.

Now Roxhill students are discovering the significant role their own school played in black history.

Seattle Public School's first black principal was Harrison Laverne Caldwell. He started and ended his career with the district at Roxhill.

The idea to study Caldwell and his groundbreaking accomplishments came after the school's librarian

stumbled across old newspaper clippings about Caldwell. From there, it just made sense, said Chris Robert, a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Roxhill who helped develop a lesson plan about Caldwell.

"I became fascinated by this piece of history present at this school," said Robert. "We've got black history right here. Every one in this school should know this man's name."

Born in Fort Scott, Kan. in 1909, Caldwell was the first black person to earn a master's degree from Pittsburgh State University. He broke through the race barrier again in 1956 when he was appointed principal of Roxhill Elementary School, becoming the first black person to hold the title in the history of Seattle Public Schools.

He had been the school's vice principal the year prior.

The event came just a few years after the milestone Brown v. Board of Education case, the Supreme Court decision in 1954 that outlawed racial segregation in public schools.

Before being recruited to Seattle, Caldwell was director of black schools in Topeka, Kan. for 10 years.

He served as Roxhill's principal up until his death in 1964. He was 55 years old.

When Caldwell first came to Roxhill the school was all white - teachers, students and staff. When Robert tells his students this, he inevitably sees some surprised faces. Roxhill has transformed into one of the most diverse elementary schools in the district, with a student population that is 82 percent minority, children mostly of Latino, Asian and black backgrounds.

"I think it's been an eye-opener for some of the kids," said Robert.

It's said that Caldwell believed that he was the first black person in the country to be principal of an all-white school. His family believes Caldwell was one of the first black principals in the state of Washington.

In other parts of the country a black principal at an all white school might have been protested, said Robert, but Seattle was progressive even back then. The district had already hired its first black teacher in 1947.

About the time Caldwell became the school head, parents, teachers and students quoted in the press spoke warmly of Caldwell. Several said they felt "privileged" to have him.

Caldwell himself told reporters that he "always felt right at home."

He was admired by his students and often received "love notes" written in crayon from adoring pupils. When one student was leaving Roxhill for another school, she wrote to Caldwell, "I will miss you, I love you."

Caldwell's life is one that Roxhill students can feel close to because of his connection with the school, said Roxhill's principal, Katie Cryan. It's allowed them to understand struggles and achievements in black history in a much broader form than simply reading a history book, she said.

"It's coming to life for them," Cryan said.

Roxhill's rich past became a bonding agent when last fall it ended up on a list of schools to potentially be closed.

Most of Roxhill students qualify for reduced price or free lunch, which means that many are from low-income households. Still, the school's largely immigrant population, many of who speak little to no English, showed their support for the school at community meetings and rallies.

Eventually, they convinced the district Roxhill was worth keeping open.

The closure scare had been tough for the community, but some good may have come out of it. Roxhill staff and student body have begun to feel a special bond with each other and a deepening understanding of their school's significant history.

"It really empowered and solidified the community support for this school," Cryan said.

"(Caldwell) wont be forgotten here," said Robert. "I think he's going to become a permanent part of our school's culture."

Students performed a reading about Caldwell's achievements and experiences during a ceremony Wednesday morning. Caldwell's son came to the event and spoke to the students.

Following in his father's footsteps, Lynn Caldwell, now 65, is retired from the Seattle School District after spending 18 years as principal of Eckstein Middle School.

There are plans to name the library after Caldwell, and some are interested in renaming the school after him. Bookmarks with Caldwell's picture will be made for the students with his quote: "Roxhill is a living example of how people can get along. It can be done - it is being done."

Rebekah Schilperoort may be reached at 932.1244 or rebekahs@ballardnewstribune.com