Booker T. Washington High School is a public high school located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is administered by Norfolk Public Schools system. The school colors are Maroon, White and Gold. The school is called “The Mighty Booker T†and the “Fighting Bookers" in Norfolk, Virginia.
History
Booker T. Washington High School also known as Booker T or BTW. The school was named in honor of Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 â€" November 14, 1915) who was an African-American educator, author, orator, and adviser to presidents of the United States. The school dates back to April 1911, when the Norfolk School Board agreed to endorse one year of high school learning in connection with elementary school at John T. West School. In 1912, a second year was added and, in 1913, a third year was included. In May 1914, the State Board of Education endorsed the high school and the local board passed an act which gave Virginia its first accredited public high school for Negroes.
The following year saw such rapid growth that the board was forced to move to the high school site on Princess Anne Road. This site was officially occupied in 1917 and its name was immediately changed to Booker T. Washington High School. In 1924, keeping pace with its own rapid growth, a new and then modern Booker T. Washington High School opened on Virginia Beach Boulevard with a student body of 1750 in grades 7 â€" 12 and a faculty of 63 teachers. During the 1920s and 1930s under the leadership of Mr. Winston Douglas, Booker T. Washington rose to new heights of glory, earning the name “The Mighty Booker T†and the “Fighting Bookers.â€
In 1961, Mr. Albert Preston took the helm and guided Booker T. Washington High School through many major social, economic and educational changes with unaltered determination and quiet dignity.
In September 1974, a new era began for Booker T. Washington High School. A modern eight million dollar plant was opened. The formal dedication was on Sunday, February 9, 1975. Dr. Thomas Newby was appointed principal in December, 1977. Under his leadership, Booker T. Washington continued its quest for excellence and service to the community. When Dr. Newby retired in 1994, Mr. Joel R. Wagner became principal. He served until 2002 when Mrs. Cynthia Watson took the helm. Mr. Kevin Monroe held the reigns as the top BTW administrator until the Summer of 2013. Mrs. Adrian Day became principal in the Fall of 2013 through the Spring of 2016. Afterwards Assistant Principal Mrs. Latesha Wade-Jenkins was appointed acting principal from Spring 2016 until the end of Summer 2016, when Dr. Margarietta Stallings was assigned to the role of principal.
The current facility, on Park Avenue, opened in 1974.
Booker T. Washington High Alma Mater
Composed by: Phyllis Hoggard now ( Phyllis Hoggard Walker ) & Wanza Sulton Class of 1960
Oh dear, old Booker T,
Our love for thee will never die.
We’ll love these halls, adore these walls,
As all the years go by.
We’ll always sing your praises.
And of your glories tell.
Then, when we leave, forget you never.
Booker T. forever.
We’re striving hard to reach,
The goal that you prepared us for.
We’ll always meet the challenge;
For knowledge we implore
Booker T., our Alma Mater,
Dear ole Booker T.,
In heart and mind, our fondest love
Shall yours forever be.
Sports at Booker T
http://www.btwhsathletics.org/
Clubs and Organizations
Academic Teams Scholastic Bowl -Mr. Zan McMurtry Debate Forensics- Mrs. Kirsten Bradley
DECA Club (An Association of Marketing Students)- Mrs. Tonya Harvey
French National Honor Society- Mrs. Syvia N’Golet
National Art Honor Society
FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)- Mrs. Virginia Heath
FHA/FCCLA (Future Homemakers of America)-Ms. Demeatice Reed
Model United Nations -Mrs. Cienai Wright-Wilkins
National Honor Society-Mrs. Alma Hilbert
NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps)- CWO3 Crear/Chief Maloneâ€"â€"â€"â€"
Spanish Honor Society-Mrs. Pura Bellido
Tri-Music Honor Society- Mr. Clifford Cox
Technology Student Association (TSA)
Sports Teams
Fall/Winter
Athletic Director-Ms. Robin Williams Cross Country-Boys/Girls-Mr. Marvin Henry
Field Hockey-Ms. Rachel Joyce
Football-Varsity-Mr. James Flowers
Football-Junior Varsity-Mr. Joshua Hyman
Golf Tennis-Boys-Mr. Thomas Rusnak
Tennis-Girls-Mrs. Victoria Horton
Volleyball-Girls-Ms. Virginia Redmond
Volleyball-Boys-Ms. Shana Purvis
Basketball-Boys Varsity-Mr. Darren Sanderlin
Basketball-Girls Varsity-Ms. Tiffani Jackson
Basketball-Boys Junior Varsity-Mr. Carlton Clemons
Basketball-Girls Junior Varsity Swimming-Girls-Ms. Rachel Davy
Swimming-Boys-Mr. Cherrod Taylor
Wrestling-Mr. Gaskins Reynolds/Xavier Bell
Varsity Scholastic Bowl- Mr. Zan McMurtry
Spring Sports
Baseball-Varsity-Mr. John Tolson
Baseball-Junior Varsity Soccer-Girls-Mr. Cherrod Taylor
Soccer-Boys-Mr. Andrew Nelson
Softball-Girls Varsity-Mrs. Christina Linnette
Track-Boys-Mr. Marlon Fields
Track-Girls-Ms. Aimee Veatch
Cheerleading-Varsity- Ms. Janet Dennis
Cheerleading-Junior Varsity
Student Government
Academic Advisor - Mrs. Cienai Wright-Wilkins
SCA (Student Council Association) - Ms. Natalie Ferrara
Freshman Class
Sophomore Class
Junior Class
Senior Class - Mrs. Paulette Townsend
Fine Arts
Academy Of The Arts-Yvette Wyatt Director of Chorus-Yvette Wyatt Director Of Band-Mr. Vincent Johnson
Director of Dance Team-Tonya Steeley Director of Orchestra-Angela Burns
Production Clubs
Newspaper
Literary Magazine-Mrs. Tracy Saravanan
Yearbook (Washingtonian)-Ms. Tressy White
Service Organizations
Public Relations Key Club BADD Science Club-Mrs. Sarah Pope The Christian Club-Mrs. Leslie Florian-Chavez Nursing Club-Mrs. Veronica Waller Faculty Spirit Club Mentorship Program CHROME Club (Cooperating Hampton Roads Organization for Minorities in Engineering)
Notable alumni
- Michael Basnight, NFL player
- Aline Elizabeth Black, educator
- Tony Brothers, NBA referee
- Don Carey, Cornerback, Norfolk State University, 2009 NFL Draft Pick
- Roy Ebron, ABAâ€"NBA merger (ABA).
- Samuel L. Green Jr., pastor and bishop
- Bruce Smith, NFL Hall of Fame defensive end
- Antoine Thompson, Cornerback, Nevada-Reno, signed with the St. Louis Rams in 2010
- Wilson Washington, played for two seasons in the National Basketball Association.
- Pernell Whitaker, several time World Boxing Champion
- Jack Williams, Cornerback, Kent College, 2008 NFL Draft Pick