Bernice Hart was a dedicated educator who grew up in East Austin and graduated from Anderson High School, and as a teacher, counselor, and District Trustee, served the children of Austin for several decades.
After earning a Bachelor's Degree from Tillotson College, she taught mathematics from 1947-1965 at Anderson High School and Kealing Junior High School. In 1961 she earned a Master's Degree from The University of Texas at Austin, becoming one of only a few African American graduates. After service in the Job Corps, she returned to education in 1970, teaching Math at Travis High School. She became a counselor at Murchison Junior High School in 1972 and joined the counseling staff of LBJ High School in 1974.
She retired from LBJ High School in 1982, but her service to Austin ISD continued as an elected member of the Board of Trustees. In her 12 years as Trustee wherein she served as President, Vice President, and Secretary. Mrs. Hart helped guide the District through a period of significant social change and rapid growth. During that challenging period in which diverse community input was vigorous on many serious issues including busing of children for racial integration purposes, she consistently and candidly expressed positions that placed the well-being of ALL children above other interest.
Her contributions to the cause of Civil Rights were recognized in 1986 when she was awarded the Arthur B. DeWitty Award of the Austin Chapter of the NAACP.
In Memory of Bernice Hart
On February 23, 2012 Hart Elementary hosted Literacy Night for all families. Before the choir performance, our students, staff and families took a moment of silence in honor of Ms. Bernice Hart. To show our heartfelt sincerity, every student of the choir, held a BIG RED HEART. A small token of our appreciation for all the hard work, dedication and LOVE Ms. Hart gave to all students in the district.