Title: Vocational Teacher (Retired)

Company: Tyler Independent School District

Location: Goleta, Calif.

Nine years before retiring from the educational profession, Darlene Lewis served the Tyler Independent School district as a vocational teacher. Garnering a total of 48 years, she expertly provided home economics education to ninth- through 12^th-grade students, with a passion to help children develop and learn. In five years, Ms. Lewis hopes to continue mentoring students.

Since becoming part of the educational field, Ms. Lewis has earned a plethora of awards, including the Teacher of the Year Award, Fay B. Bryant Human Relations Award, and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Outside of education, she has received the Basileus of the Year Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Personalities of the South Award, and the Woman of Peace Award through AAUW. Ms. Lewis received a post-master’s degree in counseling from The University of Texas, Tyler after receiving a Master of Education in elementary education SFASU.

Initially, Ms. Lewis became involved in her profession after being inspired by her home economics teacher.