16
but cow pastures until the late 1990s.)
“We were so well received,” Mrs.
Harvey recalls. “The staff, students, and
parents loved us. We only had to as for
something and the items would arrive in
the classroom. The parents always gave
us what we needed, sometimes MORE
than we needed. Soon, loria and I
were the most requested teachers in the
school.” A smile broadened Mrs. Harvey’s
face as she said, “I remember the baby
shower that was thrown for me. That baby
is now a teacher at Lee Middle School.”
While she enjoyed teaching, soon Mrs.
Harvey was given an administrative
role by Superintendent ene Witt. She
became Assistant Principal under Larry
Simmons (another of Manatee County’s
legacy educators who later became
a school board member) at Palmetto
Elementary. “Those were good times.
I would have enjoyed that position for
the rest of my days.” Mrs. Harvey smiles
as she continues, “I recall part of our
administrative training was to visit other
school sites to see administrators’ differing
styles, which was useful. After three years
as Assistant Principal, a Principal position
became available and I applied.”
In doing so, in 190, Barbara Harvey
became the Principal of Jessie P. Miller
Elementary and about the same time, her
cousin loria Mitchell, became principal
of Tillman Elementary. Mrs. Harvey’s
appointment at Miller made her the rst
minority to become an administrator at a
school so far west. Remember, years ago,
the growth of new homes was to the west.
There was nothing (and I mean nothing)
out east. In fact, this may be difficult
for some to believe, but I-75 originally
stopped in Tampa. The leg between
Tampa and Miami which passed through
Manatee County was only finished in
196. It would be many more years before
communities began to sprout up that far
to the east of downtown Bradenton or
Palmetto. Mrs. Harvey was principal at
Miller for an entire decade (190-1990.)
The memories of her time at Miller are
varied. But as her to pic a story and she
quicly has one come to mind.
“One of my children became deathly ill.
We couldn’t get a hold of her parents,
so I just new I had to get that child to
the doctor. So, I too her myself. The
doctor questioned it at rst, but did not
hesitate to see the child. This may have
just saved her life. The most amazing
thing, looing bac though, is that this
child’s parents did not mind my having
taen such action.
“You see, they trusted me. We had a
lot of that bac then. Teachers and
administrators were trusted by the parents.
I recall numerous times personally
combing lice out of children’s hair or
providing clothing or shoes for children
in need. If I saw a child had no lunch,
this was before the free lunch program, I
would pay for it out of my own pocet and
see that my child got a hot meal.”
Now, let me point out here that once
someone has spent a few minutes
with Mrs. Harvey it becomes clear
that she uses the term “my children”
frequently. She honestly feels that level
of responsibility for the children in our
community. They are truly her children in
most every sense of the word. This love
shows in all that she does.
From 1990 to 1995, Mrs. Harvey was the
director of all the Elementary Schools
in the district. “That’s when I actually
became Larry Simmons’ boss,” she says
with a sly laugh, alluding to the fact that
her relationship with other educators lie
Mr. Simmons was not just professional,
but friendly and meaningful.