03/22/2026
As we reflect on the history of women in education, we see the barriers that shaped—and sometimes delayed—their impact.
Women were excluded from leadership roles, often paid less than men, and overlooked when it came to designing curricula or shaping school policy.
Black women and women of color faced the compounded weight of segregation, underfunded schools, and systemic bias that made access to opportunity nearly impossible.
Yet, despite decades of structural barriers, women rose.
They innovated classrooms, built systems to support students with disabilities, and created networks that would lift the next generation.
Like butterflies emerging after years of struggle, their resilience reshaped education.
We honor:
Mary McLeod Bethune (Daytona Beach, FL) – Founded schools and national advocacy networks for Black students, creating pathways to higher education at a time when society offered none.
Her work opened doors for generations of students who had been systematically excluded.
Dr. Ya‑yu Lo (UNC Charlotte, NC) – Secured over $2.5 million in research funding to advance special education strategies, improve student outcomes, and strengthen professional learning for educators.
Her work ensures that research informs classroom practice and that resources reach the students and teachers who need them most.
LaTonya Goffney (Amarillo, TX) – Superintendent of one of Texas’s largest districts, expanding access to high-quality instruction and equitable programs for thousands of students while implementing policies that address long-standing systemic inequities.
Crystal Hill (Charlotte, NC) – Leads Charlotte schools with a focus on equity and student achievement, strengthening leadership and instructional practices to ensure all students receive proactive support.
Angela Duckworth (PA) – Psychologist and researcher whose work on grit and perseverance demonstrates how resilience predicts long-term student success and informs strategies to nurture student potential.
Dr. Zabrina Cannady (CASE, National) – Develops professional learning programs for special educators and administrators, equipping teachers with evidence-based strategies that improve services for students with disabilities across multiple districts.
Together, these women represent historical breakthroughs, system-level innovation, and research-based transformation.
They demonstrate that women in education:
- Break barriers in leadership and access
- Create sustainable systems for equity
- Improve student outcomes through both research and practice
- Serve as models for structural change that GIMO champions in its work
This Women’s History Month, we honor that emergence and encourage all of us to continue building systems that work—because every contribution matters, every voice counts, and every student deserves a chance to soar.
