Amazing African Ancestry Women of MUSD, Portrait #3: Cyd Mathias, 2nd/3rd Grades Teacher at Weller

Name: Cyd Mathias

Occupation:  2nd/3rd Grades Teacher at Weller Elementary

Years with MUSD:  25

How/Why is Black History Month important to celebrate throughout our district?  
Since racism and racial prejudice have been engrained in societies worldwide, children must learn that many black people have made valuable contributions in the fields of science, medicine, technology, aviation, architecture, agriculture, education, politics, exploration, athletics, literature, theatre arts, fine art,  music, and etcetera.

Who is a famous female leader of African Ancestry that inspires you and why? 
I was always impressed with educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, for all her accomplishments and tireless commitment to educating and advocating for black people.  Born on July 10, 1875, Mary McLeod Bethune was the first in her family to be born outside of the slavery institution, and in 1904, she started the Daytona Literary and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, which grew to 250 students in less than two years. After merging with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, Florida in 1923, the school was renamed Bethune-Cookman College, and is now called Bethune-Cookman University.  Bethune also founded the Mary McLeod Hospital and Training School for Nurses, which was the only school of its kind that served African American women on the East Coast.

"Dr. Bethune held leadership positions in several prominent organizations while leading her school. In 1935, she founded the National Council of Negro Women, which would become a highly influential organization with a clear civil rights agenda.  She was appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to the National Youth Administration in 1936. By 1939 she was the organization’s Director of Negro Affairs, which oversaw the training of tens of thousands of black youth. She was the only female member of President Roosevelt’s influential “Black Cabinet.”  She leveraged her close friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to lobby for integrating the Civilian Pilot Training Program and to bring the Program to  the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities, which led to graduating some of the first black pilots in the country."  (Source: https://www.cookman.edu/history/our-founder.html)

What are some of your keys to success for younger black females?
Go the extra mile to make sure your work product is impactful; create a pleasant classroom; learn from your own mistakes and successes and learn from others. Keep refining and expanding your methods and skills. Engage in face-to-face dialogue whenever possible, and treat everyone with respect. Be careful with your words.  

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