One of Fort Worth’s most noteworthy educators is now honored with a street sign topper near the high school where she served as principal.
Shirley Knox Benton sat in the parking lot of the Tarrant County Opportunity Center at 5901 Fitzhugh Ave. on Thursday, across the street from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. In front of her was her legendary bicycle and a sign that said, “It is done,” an ode to her book, “In Class … With Class … It Can Be Done.” Dozens of friends, family, church members, and former students from Dunbar High School came to support Benton and honor her legacy as the street topper was unveiled.
Benton spent 50 years in education in Texas and was the first African American female principal of Dunbar High School in east Fort Worth and the first African-American female to hold the title of Texas’ High School Principal of the Year in 2001. She spent 12 years at Dunbar from 1992 to 2004 and helped change it from one of the lowest to best performing schools in the area.
City Councilwoman Deborah Peoples, whose child was taught under Benton, saw a request to honor Benton that was first given to former Councilwoman Gyna Bivens and wanted to make sure it would get done…