This historical biography examines Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam's abolitionist roots growing up on a stop of the Underground Railroad, her training at a 'normal school,' her tenure as a teacher, principal and the nation's first city school superintendent (Bloomington, Illinois 1874-1892).

'Sarah Raymond was that rare figure who quietly, though powerfully, altered the contours of public schooling at a particularly crucial moment. As the first woman in the country to serve as superintendent of a city school system, she signaled a fundamental shift in how communities understood leadership and leaders. Noraian captures this intriguing story, freshly pieced together from as-yet little tapped sources, revealing an individual we should know.' - Jackie M. Blount, Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, USA

'A gifted storyteller, Monica Cousins Noraian has written an engaging historical biography that illuminates the career of the country's first female superintendent of city schools. Because Sarah Raymond was a woman leader who dared to trouble the status quo, her story provides a model for today's social justice advocates, male or female, who would advance the broader cause of educational equity. The book is a major contribution to the research about women educational leaders, and makes a meaningful contribution to historical understanding of educational leadership in an earlier time.' - Linda L. Lyman, Professor, Illinois State University, USA

Autorentext

MONICA NORAIAN is director of the History-Social Sciences Education Program and Director of Student Teaching at Illinois State University, USA.

Inhalt
PART II: THE EARLY YEARS PART III: ILLINOIS STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY YEARS PART IV: TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL OF BLOOMINGTON SCHOOLS PART V: SUPERINTENDENT OF BLOOMINGTON SCHOOLS PART VI: THE RESIGNATION