Frank Rushton Elementary School Hosts Live Museum in Honor of Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month at Frank Rushton Elementary School, students brought history to life by portraying influential African Americans whose groundbreaking achievements transformed society and continue to inspire change.

On Friday, February 20, the school's gymnasium was bustling with notable African Americans from the past and present.

Students dressed up as Condoleezza Rice, Diana Ross, Kamala Harris, Diahann Carroll, Coretta Scott King, Stevie Wonder, Henry Perry, Satchel Paige, Simone Biles, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and many more.

Each student had a colored dot placed on their shoulder that served as a button that could be pushed to hear their prepared speech.

When the button was pressed, they offered the storied background and impact of the person they were portraying. Students also created colorful storyboards of the person they were representing.

"I truly believe that this type of learning, student project learning, is foundational. It branches out not only to families, but it also prepares our students for middle and high school," said Frank Rushton kindergarten aide Jeri Womack.

The idea to have the interactive exhibit was Ms. Womack's. She said when she presented it to the student's parents there was almost immediate buy-in to the project.

"They were like, ‘Yes, we want them (students) to be a part of it.' They liked it because of the learning component that was attached to it, and Black History being part of American history," shared Womack.

The list of individuals students could portray was determined by the staff at Frank Rushton.

Students were then given the choice of whom they wanted to be. One student selected to be newly elected KCK Mayor Christal Watson.

Fifth-grader Reilly Brooks did all of the research she could to find out about Mayor Watson.

When the day finally came, she was prepared to be Mayor Watson. What she wasn't prepared for was the actual mayor coming to the event to meet her.

Mayor Watson went through a series of emotions when she first met Miss Reilly. Initially, she was honored and proud.

Mayor Watson quickly became emotional when she pressed the button to hear what she achieved to reach the position.

"I feel like I don't even deserve this honor. It's overwhelming to know that a young fifth-grader was so impressed by me, when she could have picked so many other people that were trailblazers," said Mayor Watson. 

"To pick someone current. For someone to pick me, there are no words to describe how I feel."

Mayor Watson also loved the idea of allowing students to participate in the history project.

“I think this idea was fantastic. It is interactive. It allows students to do some research, but then become who that person is or was. To have families and others to come up and push the button. How cool is that?” she added.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade participated in the live museum.

Their families and classmates were invited to witness their meaningful work.