Uncrowned Community Builders

Mildred J. Stallings, daughter of the late Roosevelt and Ruth Jarrett was born in Buffalo, New York on March 18 th. She had one brother, the late Alfred R. Jarrett who was the Supervisor of Music for the Buffalo Public School System.

Young Mildred attended Buffalo Public School #47. She graduated from Hutchinson Central High School . She received her Batchelor of Science in Education from Buffalo State College, her Master of Science in Education from Canisius College and has accumulated sixty graduate hours beyond her Masters Degree courses at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

For almost four decades, Mildred has been the guiding force behind thousands of school children who were most fortunate to be on the receiving end of her expertise. Her teaching, supervisory and administrative experiences in the Buffalo Public Schools included teaching at her alma mater, School #47 from 1950 to 1954. From 1954 to 1972, Mildred taught social studies, was a reading resource teacher and a team leader in the Teacher Corps. She also chaired the Buffalo Board of Education's Social Studies Committee. After a one year appointment as a reading specialist, Mildred was appointed the Assistant Principal at School #31. She became the Principal of Build Academy in 1975 and the following year was appointed Principal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Community School. Mildred was appointed Principal of School #31 in 1977 and remained at the school she "loved" until 1990. During her tenure at the school, it became an Early Childhood Center and Mildred became the first Principal of an ECC in the system.

In spite of her busy schedule, Mildred has always found time to serve on civic, charitable and service organizations. She has served on the Board of Directors for the William/Emslie YMCA, the Mid Erie Medical Center and Erie County Day Care Center. She is also a member of the NAACP, Black Educators, Literacy Volunteers of America and the Harriet Tubman 300's. Mildred also enjoys traveling. She has traveled to Europe, Africa and the Holy Land.

Mildred is an active member of St. Luke's A.M.E. Zion Church and has served as class leader, chairman of class leaders, member of the Ideal Club and of the Booster Club. Her fraternal organizations include Naomi Chapter of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliate and Erie County Chapter of The Links, Inc. Mildred also belongs to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Mildred's dedication to the children and community has not gone unnoticed. She has been cited with the Leadership in Education Award from the Black Educators, the Professional Award from the Buffalo Chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the YMCA Service to Youth Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Education, the Outstanding Educator Award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the National Columbus Day Award for Excellence in Education, the Odd Cadet #11679 G.W.O.O.F. Education Award, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Award for Education, the Quality Integrated Education Award from the Buffalo Board of Education, the Naomi Chapter #10 O.E.S.P.H.A. Award for Excellence in Education and numerous other recognitions.

Married to the late Ernest R. Stallings, Sr., Mildred and her husband were the parents of the late Ernest R. Stallings, Jr.