Special to The American
Samantha (Elliott) Briggs and Jason James are among the 20 individuals who will be inducted into the fourth Parkway Alumni Association Hall of Fame class this fall. The inductees represent a broad spectrum of professions, locations and areas of success.
When Samantha Briggs was a VICC student in Parkway (she graduated from Parkway South in 1991), she was an outstanding student, participating on the district’s Committee on Race Relations, the superintendent’s Leadership Advisory Council. She also was co-founder of South High’s Black Cultural Association.
She channeled her passion for equity in education and became a teacher, first in the Atlanta Public Schools and later in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, city schools.
Today, Briggs has founded P.E.A.C.E. Educational Consulting (Providing Equal Access to Children in Education) and P.E.A.C.E Academy, a non-profit organization which focuses on academic enrichment, mentoring, leadership development and community building. She also directs the Greene County Math and Science Program in Eutaw, Ala.
She is a noted author, presenter and adjunct professor of gender and race studies at the University of Alabama and Samford University. Briggs’ father was one of the original attorneys in the St. Louis desegregation case.
As head basketball coach at University of Tennessee-Martin, Jason James (a Parkway West 1996 graduate) is the second-youngest Division I college basketball coach in the nation. James’ motto is, “It’s not about winning and losing, it’s about your performance.”
He began his teaching career at Ritenour Middle School, then moved to St. Louis Community College –Forest Park, where he began his coaching career. While he was at Forest Park, the team finished second in the region and many of the players went on to Division I or II college basketball.
During his days as a student athlete, James was named “Freshman Basketball Player of the Year” and captain of the basketball team at Iowa’s Graceland University, where his teammates voted him “Most Valuable Team Player.”
He has spent the past seven years coaching in Martin, Tenn., where he also has earned his master’s degree in education. In the community, James has been involved in the “Character Counts” program in the Weakley County schools, the D.A.R.E program, and the Boys and Girls clubs of Union City, Tenn. He also is involved in the Coaches vs. Cancer program and Relay for Life in Martin.
“These individuals each share a drive to not only to fulfill their potential, but a commitment to share their talents with their communities and the world,” Jan Misuraca, executive director of the Parkway Alumni Association, said of all 20 awardees. “They are truly inspiring individuals who are making a difference.”
“The solid foundation these individuals received in Parkway was certainly instrumental to their success, although the rewards they have earned have been the result of hard work and dedication,” said Don Senti, Parkway’s interim superintendent.
Many of the graduates attribute their ability to succeed in school or their career choice to a special teacher or administrator who motivated them to do more.
The inductees will be honored at a celebration and dinner at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet on Sat., Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $60, payable by check or charge. Call the PAA at 314-415-8074 for reservations by Nov. 1.
For the full bios of each inductee, please visit www.parkwayalumni.org/halloffame.