by Robert Leyva
El Paso, Texas August, 1951
By 1922
Beall School was overcrowded. It
had 39 rooms, 10 classes, and1427 pupils in attendance. A
report was made to the Rotary Club Committee on school bond election that a new
school should be erected in the area to alleviate the situation.
The land was
purchased from Joe Dunn for $16,000. At
the time the proposed school was termed the "Mexican Relief School"
and later the "Woodlawn Addition School."
The architects were H.M. Beutell and Guy M. Frazer.
The contractor, George Beaudett bid $26,405, the plumber A. J. Carpenter
$2,600, the heating by F. H. Daugherty for a bid of $2,970, and the wiring by W.B.
Glardon for a bid of $786.85. In 1925 it was agreed that Hammett Street in front of the
school would be
paved.
Judge S.J.
Isaacks had proposed that school should be named after "an El Pasoan or a
Texas hero, statesman, or jurist, or be named for some place cherished in the
memory of Texas people." the
School Board arranged to have the school children submit names for the school
with a prize of $10 to go to the winner. The
name Zavala was submitted by Toufic Wardy from Franklin School.
During the
first five years there were eight classrooms, an office, a teachers' lounge, and
a clinic, with the front of the building on the north side.
The school only went through the third grade and there were ten teachers
and no office staff. Any office
work was done by the teachers.
At first the
children seldom knew any English until they learned it in school.
"Most of the people were immigrants [and] they were very poor.
Some of the pupils came to school barefooted because they did not have money to
buy shoes." The first
principal was Mamie Patterson, who was reportedly very strict and maintained
excellent discipline. She had
formerly been principal of San Jacinto School for some time.
Again according to Mr. Leyva, "An anti-Catholic School Board let out
three principals around 1922-1923. Miss
Patterson, one of these, had enough influence to get re-elected but was made
principal of Neill School, which was a demotion.
Neill School was taken over by El Paso Tech and she was given a choice of
going to Dudley or Zavala School. She
picked Zavala because she thought it would grow faster."
Miss Patterson was a native of Galveston, Texas and a graduate of
Ursuline Academy.
It is stated
that during rains planks had to be laid down so that the teachers could get into
the school through all the water, although the children enjoyed swimming in the
deep waters. and even having forbidden mudball fights.
During the winter, when it was very cold, many pupils, having no coats or
shoes, stayed home, although others would come to school to keep warm.
Zavala School was overcrowded by 1928
since the residential areas around the school had experienced rapid growth.
$65,000 was spent on an addition of twelve classrooms and an auditorium,
removing around 350 children from half-day sessions.
There were special facilities for Manual Training and Home Economics.
Thus in January 1930, with the opening of the new addition, the school
was able to accommodate grades one through six, with the seventh grade being
soon added, and in May 1931, the first graduation was held from the seventh
grade.
With the Depression Zavala lost six
teachers in 1933-34. The School
Board stated that the library was put in charge of a teacher instead of a
librarian and there was no longer instruction in manual arts, home economics
music, art, and physical education unless some general teacher was able and
willing to do these things. Nevertheless,
teachers would take two classes at a time so that someone would be free to do
the above subjects. "When the
Depression was at its worst and there were thousands in El Paso without work,
lunch was served free of charge to about 150 children.
The Women's Club and other organizations brought food out already cooked
in ten gallon cans. . .Miss Patterson dispensed the milk and food for the
children with children from upper grades helping with dishwashing.
Every child was given a plate of well cooked beans; two slices of bread
spread thick with apple butter or jelly, peanut butter, or sometimes butter; and
one-half pint . . . of fresh milk. Every teacher did something to raise money to help pay for
this food. Later the serving of
food. . . was discontinued because the Health Department said the basement had
no facilities to be used as a cafeteria and that it was not sanitary."
Miss
Patterson died and was replaced by James Carruth, 32, head of the Science
Department at Bowie School. He was
a graduate of El Paso High School and formerly the principal of the Socorro
School in the County System. He was
a graduate of Emory and Henry College in Virginia and was appointed in January
1939. In 1939 Zavala was under a twelve month system and overcrowded, but
it was decided this was the only alternative to having more classes on half
time.
During World
War II Zavala School students "helped the war effort by bringing paper and
scrap during certain drives." The
teachers had to work until 6 p.m. to give the citizens their ration books, and
they were "all dead tired and irritable."
In 1944 Mr. Carruth resigned and Mr. J.
M. Whitaker was selected as principal. Mr.
Whitaker had been teaching at El Paso High formerly. He was born in
Clayton, Texas and was a graduate of Texas A. & M., holding an M.A. from
Texas Western College, In May, 1946
he was transferred to the central office. In 1947 a contract for another
addition to Zavala was given to cost $128,537, but part time classes still had
to be held; they were finally discontinued in the spring of 1951.
John H.
Lovelady became principal of Zavala in
September, 1946. He came from
Winnsboro, Texas and had an B.A. from the University of Texas and an M.A. from
Texas Western. In May, 1948 he was
transferred to the central office. In
September, 1949 Mr. John E. Hardy was appointed principal of Zavala School.
He was from Waverly, Texas and had a BA. from Baylor University and an
M.A. from Texas Western. During the
year 1947-1948 Zavala School had 1002 students, in 1948-1949 1,323 students, in
1949-1950 1,382 students, and in 1950-1951 1,280 students.
The following is from a booklet created during the 75th anniversary of the school in the year 2000: "After 1951, documentation of events that transpired or information regarding changes to Zavala School are unknown. The school welcomes any individual with knowledge on what occurred within the 30 years after 1951. . . In the eighties, five portable classrooms were added to the campus. In the nineties, the student population has decreased due to the demolition of housing projects and homes adjacent to the school. Presently, in the year 2000, Zavala has a student enrollment of approximately 350 students. . . the campus facility has an elevator, pavilion, marquee, and well maintained campus grounds. . . Technology has contributed in preparing our children for a high tech information age. Zavala has a new science laboratory, computer lab with computers capable of accessing the internet, and the most current educational programs. . . Academically, Zavala Elementary has achieved special school awards and honors. Zavala was a Recognized School in 1996 and 1997. It received a Texas Successful School Award from the Texas Education Agency in 1993 and 1997. . . "
Faculties of Zavala Elementary School
1925-1926
Mamie Patterson, Principal Julie Dannonberg
Manda Alexander Isabel Mayor
Clara Anderson Hila Kitchell
Anna Bromberg Estelle Redding
Mabel Corley Jettie Wallace
Mary Culligan
1950-1951
J. E. Hardy, Principal
Ruth Wilburn, Secretary
Jewell Nakovic Katherine Autry
Jo Beth Taylor Elizabeth Morrill
Lora Lee Kickinson Wilma Whisenhunt
Josephine Rodarte Graciela Rivas
Martha Bain Frankie Divelbiss
Sarah McKinney Mary Dowell
Edith Remy Jo Ann Harrison
Frances Reynolds Gracie M. Ross
Rosario Zabieg Mary Jane Bush
Rebecca Armijo Kathryn Oliphat
Josefina Ramirez Harriett Kelson
Atilano Mendoza Miriam Marston
Clayton Foulks Vela Bess Walker
Anna Shamaley Edna Davis
Hermilo Cadena Rlise Ramke
Margaret Thomas Louise Soltner
Lovenia Clary Eulalia Lewis
Mildred Purvis Artie Hardy
Emma Zingg Robert Leyva
Billy Kelly Josephine Nagel
Maxine Kelly
Faculty and Staff 2000-2001
Alicia E. Ayala, Principal Gabriela Reyes, Paraprofessional
Olga Arreola, Assistant Principal Cynthia Aragon, Paraprofessional
Maria Cervantes, Counselor Yolanda Uranga, Paraprofessional
Angelica Reyes, Nurse Arturo Alferez, Head Custodian
Linda Dunn, Librarian Evangelina Pena, Custodian
Socorro Rios, Computer Clerk Margarita Tuda, Custodian
Carolina Acevedo, Nutrition Clerk Maria Burciaga
Pat Quinones, Senior Clerk Mary Pacheco, Cafeteria Manager
Andres Alvarez, Home School Liaison Yolanda Huerta
Patricia Soto, Prekindergarten Martha Callaway
Lily Aguirre, Kindergarten Dolores Brown
Beatriz Alvarez, Kindergarten Maria Luisa Franco
Farrol Eiland, Firt Grade Maria Sadler, First Grade
Martha Tovar, First Grade Eva Talavera, First Grade
Cynthia Rincon, Second Grade Aurora Ruedas, Second Grade
Beatriz Romero, Second Grade Bernicia Estrada, Second Grade
James Mosley, Third Grade Carmen Silva, Third Grade
Celia De Anda, Third Grade Blanca Murguia, Third Grade
Blanche Acuna, Fourth Grade Carlos Esparza, Fourth Grade
Cesar Campos, Fourth Grade Viki Williams, Fourth / Fifth Grade
Hortencia Unzueta, Fifth Grade Yolanda Lopez, Fifth Grade
Mary Salgado, Fifth Grade Jan Cannon, 4th/5th Gr. Gifted/Talented
Joseph Melendez, P. E. Teresa Hernandez, Orchestra
Emma Hernandez, Reading Recovery Anthony Tomasheski, Resource
Jamie Hinson-Fushille, Speech Emma Urbina, playground monitor
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All material is presented for educational purposes.