Denver native Tamara Rhone says she was “predestined” to be a teacher. More of a calling than a career choice for her, she shared knowledge and mentored youth over 43 years, until retiring from Denver Public Schools in 2009. Yet even in retirement, she can’t stay out of the classroom and continues to teach a couple of concurrent enrollment classes each semester.
Rhone comes by her passion for teaching naturally. “My great-grandfather was an enslaved mulatto man in this country,” she says. “He got the unusual privilege of being sent to school, was college-educated, and went on to become an AME minister as well as a teacher. He had nine children, seven of whom made it into adulthood, and three of those seven who went on to teach as well.”
Small life experiences can often have huge impacts on our chosen pathways; this was the case for Rhone. “When I was in high school I was a part of a community service program where I was assigned the task of working with a young boy who I was told was ‘difficult.’” Rhone says. “Oh, but when I met him, I didn’t find him difficult at all. I thought he was sweet. I would see him regularly and read books with him, and by the time I had finished the program, I had taught him how to read himself. The other program leaders and participants couldn’t believe it,” Rhone remembers.
Passionate educator
After obtaining her college degree from Colorado State University in 1976, Tamara began her career as a math and social studies teacher at Loyola Elementary School. She went to Denver’s East High School in 1977, where she has influenced generations of students. During her tenure there, she went beyond teaching during school hours, often staying after-hours to continue fueling her passion for impacting change in students’ lives.
Rhone created Honors African American History curriculum, which is used by the entire Denver school district. She also created school curriculum and helped build a library for students of Haiti through the Global Outreach Ministry of her church, Cure D’Ars.
Of her many projects, the one nearest to Rhone’s heart is the service trip to Ghana, Africa, for students. “I would always hear on the [East High School] intercom information about trips to France, trips to Spain, trips all around the world but never to a country on my continent,” she says. That is why in 2004, she organized the first trip to the African country for 10 students with the support of Regis University. On this first excursion, she was honored to be enstooled as a Queen Mother in the village of Aburansa. She has continued these service trips, gaining more and more support enabling her to bring additional students each year. The service trip was planned for 45 students this past March but was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19.
Advocating in and out of the classroom
Tamara Rhone has also been a strong advocate for youth social and civic engagement out of the classroom. A lifetime member of Jack & Jill of America—Denver Chapter Associates, she has spent years volunteering for the mothers’ organization, which nurtures and encourages African American children and youth to become leaders. As a youth of 18 years old, she, herself, was influenced by the passing of the 26th Amendment, allowing 18-year-olds to vote. That historic shift, along with meeting Shirley Chisolm and Jessie Jackson, among other political representatives, afforded her an understanding of the importance of voting. She continues to encourage everyone, especially youth, to register as soon as they are eligible and, more importantly, to vote!
Family is another central element in Rhone’s life. “My family is close,” she says. “Growing up, and even now, it feels like cousins are just siblings. Everyone in the family offers something great—a variety of support from phone calls to technological support from the younger ones to wisdom from my elders.” Rhone is blessed to have her mother, Barbara Dwight, and stepfather, legendary sculptor Ed Dwight, in her life. Her father, Robert Rhone, died at the age of 35 from a blood clot. He was a sitting member of the Colorado General Assembly at the time.
In recent years, Tamara Rhone has shared her passion for education and history with her daughter, Amber. “My daughter and I write a lot of curriculum together, and I use her as a guest teacher, having her come into classes.”
Elders are a gift to the community
The world can be cruel sometimes, and as the current pandemic continues, it has sparked negative attitudes about aging in America. One of the most significant quotes Rhone internalized is an African proverb, “When an elder dies, a library burns.” She is proud of all the knowledge and wisdom she has gained from the ones who came before her and encourages others not to take for granted the elders who are in their lives right now. For anyone looking to following in her footsteps, Rhone would like to say, “You are never too old to learn, and you are never too old to teach.”
Angelle Fouther and Daryn Fouther
Read more about other older adults who are indispensable.
About a month ago I joined a family Zoom session and guess what cousin Tamara was doing? Teaching, of course! Her face lit up and her smile got wider and wider as she found herself in teaching mode. It was wonderful to sit at the virtual feet of a true queen and learn.
Ms. Rhone is such an amazing teacher and woman. I loved sitting on her class. She would talk about African Queens and Kings and civil rights leaders like they were hwr best friends and she just had dinner with then the night before. I feel like I channel a little Ms. Rhone when I do my own teaching. I always wanted to be a teacher like her.
I say AMEN to this article! I am honored to know Tamara and have seen first hand her dedication to education and to our African American youth. May God continue to bless Tamara and her work!
Thank you Tamera Rhône ❣️ I very much appreciate your tenure in teaching our youngsters African American studies. You taught Colorado students, including my own, when no other teacher was filling this role. You have empowered an entire kinship village that included students of all ethnicities❣️ I honor you and your tenacity to accomplish this higher ground work❣️ Thank you❣️
Modupe,
Love Always❣️
Jawana
Tamara is an inspiration and a joy to have as a friend. Whenever I need a quick answer regarding either politics, or more importantly, Black History, she is my first source to reference as she is a wealth of information. Well done Black Queen Mother!
Ms. Rhône was my teacher at East she helped me out a lot. I loved going to her class because she kept it real and very interesting. Congratulations Ms.Rhone thank you for everything your doing and have done.
You’re an amazing woman and you’ve done amazing things with your life! I salute you!
Tamara is a soul that is full of love, knowledge, and skill. I was never a student of hers but she taught me many lessons throughout my entire life. Anyone privileged enough to know her, loves her.
Tamara, I am so proud of you in all your accomplishments. Although I never had you as a teacher, I was Blessed to have been in your presence as you taught a class at a Church and you was truly amazing. My second opportunity was when we were in Cape May together with 2 other friends and we walked through the areas that Harriett Tubman did while she was in the area. We were basically on our own, but thanks to your awesome knowledge of history in particular Black History I learned so much more.
You my dear friend is the Queen of all teachers.
What a beautiful and accurate tribute to you. For all the sacrifices and wonderful things you do for your students, as well as all the others who come into contact with you, thank you. Please continue all of your good work.
This is a well-deserved tribute to someone who has made an impact in so many lives, mine included…. Grateful that you took me under your wing and allowed me to learn so much from you as an intern when I was on my own journey to becoming a teacher. And I was blessed to work alongside of you to encourage and advocate for our students at East for 9 years after that (short time, compared to your 43 yrs of “official” teaching – and I know you are still teaching!). I was and continue to be inspired by your love, dedication and commitment to students and the community.
I remember being her student at Denver East High School! Not too unlike her, I was a teacher at an early age as well. I was a Literacy Specialist as well, and was given the “difficult” boys as well. For some odd reason, people thought these boys to be difficult. Strangely, they never gave me any problems. The most difficult job of a teacher is finding the switch that turns on their lightbulb… what ‘people’ don’t realize is that the “difficult ones” will ALWAYS lead you righ to it! Thank you, Ms. Rhone, for not being afraid to be you❣
I had the honor of not only being taught by Ms. Rhone but all my siblings and my children have been taught by her as well. It is so beautiful to see her get these flowers. She deserves it and much more. It is because of her wealth of knowledge that I can educate others in these tough times. She’s also half the reason I decided to teach. Thank you Ms. Rhone for making sure we know who we really are!