History of Grahamwood Elementary School
 

In 1949, architect Estes W. Mann and his associate William C. Mann envisioned the new school at Graham and Summer to be a center for year round activities for the community. In its fifty years of existence, Grahamwood School has brought both pride and honor to the vision.

The Memphis City School Board invested $375,000 to build the original 29,000 square-foot building housing twelve classrooms (grades1-6), a cafeteria, a kitchen, an office, and a teachers’ lounge. Grahamwood Elementary School opened in September 1950. Three years later the Annex, located North of the main building, added eleven classrooms. In 1954 a three-story building added twelve more classrooms, a library, guidance office, four multipurpose rooms, two teachers’ lounges and a principal’s office. Finally in 1963, the cafeteria was expanded and a large stage was added as well as the windowed hallway.

Grahamwood has been fortunate to have the services of only four principals in its fifty year history. Pearl Deen opened the school and remained until the spring of 1960. Next came Margaret McCorkle from 1960 until the spring of 1971. She was followed by Margaret G. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor was principal for twenty-four years (1971-1995). Today Margaret Ware leads Grahamwood into the 21st century.

The student population has grown as the neighborhood has grown. The original 300 students have grown to a diverse student body of approximately 1000 students from all over the city and county. In 1950, Grahamwood served grades one- six and later added kindergarten. When Plan Z busing went into effect Grahamwood changed to a kindergarten - third grade school. In the fall of 1982 Grahamwood reverted back to a K-6 school and added an Enriched Academics Optional School within a school.

During the 50’s and 60’s the Grahamwood PTA served the whole community through its programming, Halloween carnivals, Cotton Carnival parade floats, and other community events. Each PTA meeting had a speaker or panel discussion of interest to the public as well as the school community. Grahamwood School has also long served the community as a voting place. Today the Grahamwood PTO is once again a strong force in the school and the Grahamwood community.

Throughout the years Grahamwood has been recognized for excellence. The Boys Safety Patrol was the most honored squad in the city in the 60’s. In 1981 Thomas Gough received a Volunteer of the Year award for encouraging retirees to tutor students at Grahamwood. His idea spread throughout the city creating a program still in existence today. In the winter of 1986, Grahamwood was honored as one of Tennessee’s Ten Great Schools by then Governor Lamar Alexander. Later that same year the United States Department of Education named Grahamwood a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Grahamwood was fortunate to be a part of the original Adopt a School program. Two community agencies, 1st Tennessee Bank and The National Council of Jewish Women became our first partners. Reading is Fundamental, tutoring and arts grants are a few of the programs generated in the early days. Today Federal Express serves as Grahamwood’s Adoptor. A successful tutoring service, a Speaker’s bureau of foreign cultures, classroom adoptions and the automation of the school library are working to better the lives of our students.

In 1982 Grahamwood developed an Artist in Residence program through grants from the Tennessee Arts Council and our adoptor, 1st Tennessee. Musicians, poets, actors, mimes, painters and dancers enriched the lives of Grahamwood students and faculty. The Dragonsingers, a part of the Orff music program at Grahamwood have been invited to sing all over Memphis, most notably with the Memphis Symphony in 1985 and 1986. This past year they recorded a CD of Tennessee music. For a number of years in the 90’s Grahamwood had a French teacher. Beginning in 1997 Grahamwood students have had an Art teacher on the Faculty. Grahamwood continues to recognize the importance of the arts to enhance children’s lives.

Grahamwood has marched into the 21st Century to prepare her students. The technology lab is first class and every classroom has computers available to enhance learning. The development of the Outdoor Classroom in cooperation with the PTO has expanded learning beyond the walls. Student participation in the Science Fair and the History Fair is evident when the citywide awards are announced. Four Grahamwood students have designed the children’s Memphis in May poster in the last six years. One student has had her design made into a United States Post Office stamp.

The faculty and administration are also excellent. Through the years thirteen teachers have been designated as Rotary Teachers of Excellence. Others have been honored as the Social Studies Teacher of the Year, technology grant recipients and the Crystal Apple award winner. Margaret G. Taylor was honored as Educator of the Year by the Alumni of Memphis State University in 1991.

Grahamwood fulfills the architects dream.. serving the community as a center for excellence in education. The students, faculty, administration and community look forward to the next 50 years with anticipation. The excitement of a new eight classroom wing and the renovation of the existing building makes the future bright.