The Bobcat Beat
Beginning next week we will highlight important pieces of these histories. As Dr. Maisha Winn says in Justice on Both Sides, "History Matters...and the infinite journey of all educators is to learn about the historical contexts that affect the schools and communities we teach in. The Histories that make us uncomfortable and force us to look critically at the ... dynamics that characterize our schools."
And so each week in November, we will learn, lean in to the Histories and celebrate by honoring the cultures, histories, futures and lasting contributions of Indigenous communities. As educators, we commit to creating inclusive learning environments and a culture that uplifts and empowers each scholar and their voice.
This week we celebrate Mary Golda Ross.
Mary G. Ross was the second of five children of William Wallace Ross Jr. and Mary Henrietta Moore Ross. She was the great-granddaughter of the Cherokee Chief John Ross. John Ross was influential in the creation of the new settlement in Oklahoma following the removal of Native Americans from their land under Andrew Jackson. This settlement for the Cherokee Nation was complete with a school and government.
She was the first Native American female engineer. She was also the first female engineer in the history of the Lockheed Corporation. She worked at Lockheed from 1942 until her retirement in 1973, where she was best remembered for her work on aerospace design. She was one of the 40 founding engineers of the renowned and highly secretive Skunk Works project while at Lockheed Corporation. Throughout her life, Ross was dedicated to the advancement of young women and Native Americans in STEM fields. Ten years after her death, in 2018, Ross was chosen to be depicted on the 2019 Native American $1 Coin by the U.S. Mint celebrating Native Americans in the space program.
