COVID-19 claims life of Tarrant County education pioneer

FORT WORTH, Texas – Those most proud of his dedication to others remember a pioneer in education from Tarrant County.

In his own words recorded six years ago by the organization he co-founded, Dr. Dennis Dunkins revealed his passion for equality in education, especially in the Fort Worth Independent School District.

“I love having this opportunity,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges in creating TABSE was getting people to believe that we were real, that we were really serious about what we were trying to do.”

The Texas Alliance of Black School Educators was formed in 1987. Today it has over 1,000 members and 15 affiliates across Texas.

Dunkins died of complications from COVID-19 on Tuesday, causing an avalanche of recognition in his memory.

“He made sure we were equitable in preserving traditional African American communities like Morningside, like Stop Six with great African American leadership,” said Tobi Jackson, Fort Worth ISD school board member.

The man credited with increasing the number of African-American principals in Fort Worth was himself one of the first black students to graduate from the University of North Texas.

He celebrated his 80th birthday in September, shortly after earning a doctorate in Christian leadership and community organizing.

“He was instrumental in the development of our first magnet programs in Fort Worth high schools that traditionally served students of color. Without her work, we wouldn’t have these magnet programs, ”said Dr. Cherie Washington, chief of Fort Worth ISD schools.

For decades, Dunkins has personally organized college tours for thousands of high school students to visit historically Black colleges and universities across the country.

“Dennis was not satisfied to know what he knew and to sit down. He wanted to share it with older people, his peers but certainly with younger people, which is why he took them to these. tours across the south by visiting these colleges, ”said Bob Ray Sanders, a local historian.

For his family, the loss of Dunkins is more than words can describe. His son, Dennis Dunkins II, also a Fort Worth ISD educator, is saddened but proud.

“He was so much a part of ‘anything I can do to help I will do it from my post.’ I think a lot of us in different positions don’t realize how we can affect others. And I think that’s what he understood, ”his son said.

Until recently, Dunkins held weekly Zoom Meetings for Directors – a Director Institute. He shared with them a practical manual on how to be an effective manager in urban communities.