Friends and family members said Bedelia Mitchell “was a force to be reckoned with.” Three years after her passing, the Boerne ISD again dealt with her educational influence, adding her to an honor bestowed to her late husband, George Mitchell. The Boerne ISD board of trustees voted unanimously Monday to name its under-renovation learning center the George C. and Bedelia Mitchell Learning Center, while selecting to honor longtime elementary teacher Viola A. Wilson by naming its next elementary school after her.
The district assembled its facilities naming committee earlier this summer to accept nominations from the public for naming Elementary School no. 8, being constructed in south Boerne. The school is expected to open for the start of the 2024-25 academic year.
The district received 315 responses for the committee to consider during its July 31 meeting. It emerged with three nominees: Viola A. Wilson, George C. Mitchell and Balcones Creek, a subdivision near the school.
Boerne board Trustee Rich Sena told his fellow trustees he put a lot of thought into the naming process, seeing the benefits of all three names. But he projected beyond just the naming of the elementary facility.
After dismissing the Balcones Creek suggestion, Sena offered a review of the lifelong dedication to education of each of the nominees.
Sena said he “put a lot of thought into this” and shared his reasoning for honoring both named individuals.
“It just seemed like a natural to name the elementary school after somebody that had been an elementary teacher for over 40 years,” Sena said, in the selection of Wilson. She taught in Balcones and Boerne for 40 years, beginning her career in one-room schoolhouses.
“From many of the statements of support for Mrs. Wilson, you got a sense of her commitment and passion for her students,” he said.
Of the district’s schools named for individuals Viola Wilson “would be the only one that served as a classroom teacher her entire career, and would be the first woman so honored,” he added.
George Mitchell, he said, was a respected and active member of the community.
“But the first thing I thought of when I heard the recommendation of Mr. Mitchell was, why wasn’t his wife Bedelia, mentioned there with him?”
He said she was as involved in the community, having worked at Curington Elementary for 12 years, mentoring students, and giving private Spanish lessons. She gave presentations on Texas history to students in the schools and at Boerne Public Library, and was awarded the “tops in Texas Award” for her volunteer and civic duty.
In thinking of George Mitchell, Sena said the word “opportunity” came to mind. Mitchell was one of the founders of the Crusaders Club, which promoted understanding for the betterment of the community, awarded scholarships and sponsored Project Adelante to mentor Boerne students through examples of successful civic and business life.
Formed in 1969, the Crusaders organization dissolved in 2019 and gifted an endowment to Sam’s Kids Student Foundation for scholarships to graduating seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, the ability to overcome financial hardship, involvement in extracurricular activities, and high potential for success in higher learning and life.
“It just struck me that it would be a good thing to honor both husband and wife. They were both integral parts of our community and they fought for kids that may not have always had the most opportunity,” he said.
The district currently is renovating its former administration building to house the Boerne Academy, which will serve students “with unique life challenges, special needs, and those that do not prosper in a traditional high school setting,” he said.
His suggestion: name the elementary after a lifelong elementary school educator and name the renovated Boerne Academy after the Mitchells.
“The district does have a precedent of naming facilities after civic leaders and that’s who George and Bedelia Mitchell were,” he added. “I just saw this connection -- educating all of our children through the programs that will be housed at the newly named George and Bedelia Mitchell Learning Center.”
Christina Mitchell, granddaughter of the Mitchells, spoke in favor of naming the elementary school after her father. But after Sena’s suggestion was approved by the board, she was very pleased to be able to honor both of her grandparents.
“We’re very proud with the board’s decision,” Mitchell said. Her grandmother was indeed “a force to be reckoned with,” she said with a laugh. “She was a very strong woman, involved, not afraid to speak her mind. But she always had a kind heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone.”
Eva Mitchell, a former Boerne City Councilwoman, is Christina’s mother and an in-law to George and Bedelia. “They were wonderful people and cared about others,” Eva Mitchell said. “All that they gave, and all the contributions they made, it was all whole-heartedly done.”
Comment
Comments