Jarrell, Ira (1896–1973)

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Jarrell, Ira (1896–1973)

American superintendent of schools. Name variations: Helen Ira Jarrell. Born Helen Ira Jarrell on July 27, 1896, in Meriwether County, Georgia; died Aug 27, 1973, in Little Rock, Arkansas; dau. of William Henry Jarrell and Emma (Hutchison) Jarrell.

Began career as elementary schoolteacher in Atlanta, GA (1916), then senior teacher (1930), then principal (1934); worked with Atlanta Public School Teachers' Association (APSTA), becoming recording secretary (1929), member of executive board, 1st vice president (serving 3 terms), and delegate to Atlanta Federation of Trades; became president of APSTA (1936); became 1st female superintendent of schools in Atlanta (1944), overseeing doubling in number of schools, tripling in number of teachers, increased teachers' salaries, introduction of special programs for handicapped children, and addition of radio and tv stations to school system; accused of resisting desegregation and racial equality in school system, retired during controversy (1960); was director of curriculum development section of GA State Department of Education (c. 1960–67).