Montclair Public Schools

Glenfield students Kailynn Sampson and Mya Spears, students in Courtney Washington’s math class, recently interviewed Joylette Goble Hylick, the daughter of NASA mathematician, Katherine Johnson. They discussed her mother's life and legacy as well as her personal memories of her mother. Johnson was portrayed in the film Hidden Figures, received the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2019 Congressional Gold Medal, and was posthumously inducted to the 2021 National Women’s Hall of Fame.

                       

The interview was part of News-O-Matic, an online daily news publication partnering with the National Women's Hall of Fame to publish a profile on each of its nine recent inductees. News-O-Matic reaches K-8 students in thousands of U.S. schools. Russell Kahn, News-O-Matic Chief Content and Education Officer coordinated the student-interview and story scheduled to be published this month.

  
Last month, students participated in a Door Decorating Contest for Black History Month. At left, Courtney Washington and student Kailynn Sampson. At right, Board members (l-r) Kathryn Weller-Demming and Crystal Hopkins took a moment from judging the Door Decorating Contest to pose with Principal Erika Pierce.

Students in Washington’s class also paid tribute to Katherine Johnson by decorating the classroom door, hallway, and whiteboard with facts and activities that help highlight the career of Johnson as well as her commitment to community service through membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The student project was led by artists, McKyia Jalil, Owen Kahn, Caroline Loscalzo, Kailynn Sampson and Mya Spears. More than 50 other math students who participated also have their names listed on the classroom door.  

    

Hylick and Katherine Goble Moore, also a daughter of Katherine Johnson, were able to view the door, hallway, and whiteboard via Zoom. Both sisters sent statements to the students that they were highly pleased with the students' work and with the interview.