Juneteenth Film Festival in Gainesville features documentary about local teaching legend
The life and legacy of the late distinguished Alachua County educator Gloria Jean Merriex was revisited during the 2nd annual Juneteenth Film Festival in Gainesville.
Merriex was the subject of this yearֱs featured film, a documentary titled ֱA Class of Her Ownֱ that was made and directed by Boaz Dvir, an award-winning filmmaker and associate professor of journalism at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. Dvir was a filmmaking professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville for 10 years. In 2008 he was approached by Don Pemberton, founding director of the Lastinger Center for Learning at UFֱs College of Education, to make the documentary.
Dozens of people watched the documentary Saturday at the A. Quinn Jones Centerֱs auditorium at 1108 NW Seventh Ave.
A panel discussion after the screening featured Dvir, Leanetta McNealy, Ph.D., who was the principal of Duval Elementary School in northeast Gainesville during Merriexֱs tenure as a teacher at the school and Gainesville City Commissioner for District 1 Desmon Duncan-Walker.
Merriex, who died May 16, 2008, at the age of 58, left a powerful legacy in students' lives in the area and is known for her role in transforming Duval Elementary School from an "F" into an "A" school in 2003.
The late math teacher is known for using hip-hop, dance and chants as strategies to get the students to learn.
Gloria Merriex:Math made easier
The scores for the school moved from an ֱFֱ to an ֱAֱ in 180 days. The school continued to receive a grade of A four out of the next six years.
Merriex's family was present during the screening and her daughter Tayana Washington appreciated seeing the community gather to remember her mother's legacy.
"I want to thank everyone in the city of Gainesville and Boaz," Washington said. "Without you, none of this will be possible."
Washington said she has seen the film three times and gets emotional every time.
"I cried the whole time," Washington said. "I wish she was here to see it."
Washington has similar traits like her mother by caring for other people as a nurse. She said she still uses her mom's math rap to teach her two daughters.
"I miss her being my mom," Washington said. "I always called her but now I don't have that anymore. So whatever I need, I try to do that for myself and my kids."
The documentary features testimonies from family members, volunteers, staff, and Merriex's former students.
It was fitting the panel discussion was held at the A. Quinn Jones Center, said Duncan-Walker, who was taught by Merriex in the fifth grade.
"We are at the old Lincoln High School, and this is one of the first schools to be accredited for African Americans in the state of Florida under the leadership of A. Quinn Jones," Duncan-Walker said. "It just makes so much sense that we will be here. She [Merriex] loved and cared for each child and wanted to see the success of every student."
McNealy, now a member of the School Board of Alachua County, was appointed principal of Duval Elementary in 1995 and served 14 years at the school.
There are educational gaps in schools throughout Florida and using Merriex's strategies and passion for teaching can help bridge those gaps, McNealy said.
"It's not just in Alachua County," McNealy said. "What's needed is what we saw in the movie today. There are still gaps. We can't deny that we've done
great things in Alachua County but we have roads to cross."
It was her first time seeing the documentary and she remembered the sacrifices she had to make to ensure students were taught under Merriex through her guidelines and by agreeing for Merriex to teach at least 50 students at a time other than the standard of 25 students, McNealy said.
"I wanted to have every child to be embraced by Gloria Jean Merriex," McNealy said. ֱIt took a lot of guts and tenacity to do it. She did it her way and she did a great job doing it. We have to take her strategies to close the gaps within Alachua County.
ֱShe [Merriex] had a way of teaching our children and meeting their needs. You have to know the children first and provide meaningful and memorable instructions."
Dvir said he hopes the documentary sparks change in the current state of education.
"We need Gloria's lessons now more than ever," Dvir said. "The violence and oppression are targeting younger ages. The lessons she [Merriex] taught us are crucial and I'm doing everything I can to share it to as many people as I can."
One of the main successes of the Merriex years was parental involvement and how it is important for parents of this generation to be involved in their child's life as students from pre-kindergarten all the way to high school, McNealy said.
"I'm hoping teachers will latch on and do similar things," McNealy said. "There's ways to create a meaningful curriculum for students."
Merriex used her skills and personality to teach her students, Dvir said.
"She met them in an authentic way," Dvir said. "She met the students where they were and where she was. She wanted every child not only to do well but to excel."