Former Marlboro Elementary School renamed after its first principal Posted On: Monday, Aug. 25 2008 01:44 AM By Mason W. Canales
Killeen Daily Herald

Killeen Independent School District rededicated the former Marlboro Elementary, now a professional learning center, on Sunday after the building's first principal, Dock Jackson Jr., a historical figure for the school district.

"I am so happy to be able to stand here to enjoy this," said Thelma Jackson, Jackson's widow, at the rededication ceremony on Sunday. "When I drive down Rev. Ambercrombie and see the sign, it's beautiful."

Most remember Marlboro Elementary as an all-black school in KISD. It originally taught first through 10th grade in 1954, and Dock Jackson Jr. was its first principal in 1955, stated a KISD program.

Jackson was responsible not only for being the principal though, but a teacher and coach, the program stated.

"I doubt he dreamed of a day that his little school would be named after him," said Charles O'Neal, who attended Marlboro as a first-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-grader between 1957 and 1963, speaking to those in attendance at the rededication ceremony.

O'Neal captured the audience by sharing his grade-school experiences with Jackson.

"Before Dock Jackson," O'Neal said, "there was no administrator in KISD that could be described as cool."

Jackson taught students various subjects, he taught students how to high jump, he was a friend and more, O'Neal said.

"In my mind, Dock Jackson was like John Shaft. He was a bad mother – shut your mouth ...," O'Neal said.

KISD System Superintendent Jim Hawkins talked about how the building and the activities that have been going on at the professional learning center for the last year and in future years will serve the Jackson name well.

"Today is about us being able to stand on the shoulders of those that came before us," Hawkins said. "It is that legacy of Dock Jackson that keeps us going."

At the professional learning center, teachers strive to become better educators, through the various programs that are run here, Hawkins said. It provides modern tools for them to accomplish their goals.

"This whole building isn't about servicing one school – but the whole community," Hawkins said. "Because Dock Jackson did the work he did, we are able to do the work we do today."

Attending the rededication ceremony were Jackson's friends, family, co-workers and students.

"This group was really the heart of Dock Jackson," said Alice Douse, former Marlboro Elementary School teacher and KISD principal. "They were the group that gave him purpose," she added asking his former students to stand.

Douse also asked Jackson's family to stand, his fraternity members and retired teachers.

Jackson really pushed not only his students to excel but also the district, said Joe Maines, KISD Board of Trustees president during the ceremony.

"KISD will strive to carry on the torch that Dock Jackson carried for us," Maines said.

Contact Mason W. Canales at mcanales@khdnews.com or (254) 501-7554.