There is a
spirit roaming the hallways at Anne Frank Elementary. Not the spirit of the
brave Jewish teenage girl that endured years of isolation through writing, but
one that inspires a whole community to go above and beyond their duties to be
there for the kids.
It is the
legacy that Jonnice Legum Berns, the founding principal of the school, leaves
behind as she retires after 18 years in her post. "It is my time to leave.
The school needs to keep growing and changing, and someone else will take it to
the next level", said the Virginia native, who has worked in the Dallas
school district for the past 38 years.
This spirit was
born about 50 years ago when, as a young child, Ms. Berns decided to become a
teacher. "My sisters still complain about it", laughs Ms. Berns, as
she explains that her goal all along has been to love kids and help them build a
strong foundation.
With that
mindset, the young graduate from Louisiana State University was recruited to
work in South Dallas as a first grade teacher. The African American students cherished
her and taught her that love sees past skin color.
Later on, she
moved to Robert E. Lee Elementary, where she taught for nine years. "One
of my fondest memories is the year I started with 40 kindergarteners”, she recollects.
The parents had to help, and together, they built a tight community. Berns
still communicates with members of that class. “There was a child that created
intricate clay figures, and we knew he had an extraordinary talent for the
arts”. She has seen the work that he now does as a film illustrator in LA.
Even though Berns
loved the classroom, that same spirit led her to pursue a career in school
administration. Part of her education was a Fulbright scholarship that took her
to England, where she taught first grade to immigrants from Pakistan and
Bangladesh. “It was a great opportunity
to share the values of the American culture with the townspeople, who thought
all Americans were like the characters in the soap opera ‘Dallas’”, she
recollects.
Back home, her
experiences with different cultures and races served her well. She had to
navigate through the subtle barriers of race and gender to become an assistant
principal, a position that she held for five years.
In 1997, the
district planned to open 6 new schools. Berns went to the groundbreaking ceremony
of Anne Frank’s because she had a close connection with the name. Miep Gies,
who hid Anne’s family in the annex, came to the ceremony. I knew I had to be
there.” Soon, she was selected as a principal and chose to stay there until the
end of this school year.
At the corner
of Montfort and Celestial Road, that spirit has grown to a culture that
respects diversity, honors work ethics, and cares for the whole community. “We
take care of the teachers, so they can take care of the kids”, expressed Berns,
who is still considering her options after retirement.
This coming fall, the community at the North
Dallas Elementary will welcome Ms. Heather Holland, who currently works as
assistant principal at L.V. Stockard middle school.