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Manatee School Board proclaims February Black History Month and highlights James Tillman legacy at Tillman Elementary
Summary
The School Board of Manatee County adopted a Black History Month proclamation and recognized the life and legacy of educator James A. Tillman; Tillman Elementary staff and alumni addressed the board and a school video was shown.
The School Board of Manatee County voted to adopt a proclamation recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month and used the meeting’s recognition segment to honor James A. Tillman, the namesake of Tillman Elementary School.
Mike Barber introduced the proclamation and read its basis in federal law and Florida statute, referencing Public Law 99-244 (1986) and Florida Statute 1003.42(2)(f), which the proclamation cites as requiring instruction on the history and contributions of Black Americans. The board adopted the proclamation with a quorum present.
Board members watched a video produced by Tillman Elementary that recounted James Tillman’s career: he trained at Florida A&M, taught and coached in Volusia and Manatee Counties, served as principal at Lincoln Academy and Memorial High, and died in 1965 shortly before the school that bears his name opened in January 1966. Principal Marla Massey Blackmore noted that Tillman Elementary earned an A for the first time in its history last year and credited staff and community efforts.
Alumnus A.D. "Moody" Johnson Jr., who said he was a 1965 graduate of Lincoln Memorial High School, told the board that Tillman “was a man of high character and integrity” and recalled personal memories of Tillman’s teaching style and influence. Teacher Tamika Williams, who attended Tillman as a student and has taught there for 22 years, described returning to teach and help students from the same community.
During the public-comment period following the recognition, Mary Lynn Parker and Dr. Barbara Aaron (chair of the Education Committee of the NAACP Manatee Branch) thanked the board for the Black History Month proclamation and encouraged continuance of proclamations that align with statutes and instructional standards.
The board encouraged attendees from Lincoln alumni groups and school staff to join the photo opportunity that followed the recognition. No formal action beyond adoption of the proclamation was taken during the recognition segment.
