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BIOGRAPHY:  Marilyn Foote-Kragbé

Marilyn Foote-Kragbé is the daughter of Lonnie Charles and Mary Ellen Foote.  She is the fourth of eight children, born and raised here in Buffalo, NY.  She attended Public School 53, Woodlawn Junior High, (presently, School of Performing Arts) and East High School in her former years.  She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Rosary Hill (Daemen College) and was awarded the honor of “Who’s Who in All Colleges and Universities in 1974.

Her career as an educator started in the private school system beginning at the Humboldt YMCA as an Early Push Pre-K Teacher (Small Fry) for three years while she was going to college and at Guardian Angel Day Care for two years as a kindergarten teacher.  Then, she traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and lived for 13 years in the Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa.  There she became fluent in French and taught at the International Community School of Abidjan as a teacher in the K – 3 grades.  She raised her daughter, a son, and 6 extended family members during this time.  She was a Girl Scout Troop Leader, Summer School Director and attended the Interdenominational Church of Abidjan.

Returning to the States, Marilyn had worked for two summers as an Adolescence Vocational Counselor for the Buffalo Urban League and taught during the school year at the Early Childhood Research Center at SUNY Buffalo.  She received the Masters Degree from SUNY at Buffalo in Elementary Education in 1989. 

Her children achieved very well even though they were living in a single parent household. Her son, Tatchy was active in the Boy Scouts.  Marilyn worked as a Merit Badge Counselor and Parent Committee Member for many years in her son’s troop.  Her son attained the Eagle Scout rank doing his Eagle Project at Durham AMEZ Church.  Tatchy is now serving in the Air Force. He has completed two tours in the Middle East in Iraq and the UAE. 

Her daughter, Lisa was a high school State Champion in the intermediate high hurtles in track and field.  She was awarded a four year sports’ scholarship at SUNY at Buffalo.  Lisa is now an active missionary serving on SUNY at Buffalo campus ministry under the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptists.  She has traveled to Australia, Honduras, China, local and statewide missions, and served with the Federation of Christian Athletic Camps in Erie, PA.  Also, Marilyn is raising her great nephew, Donald who is 17 years old.

Marilyn commenced working for the Buffalo Public Schools in Sept. 1989. She used some her experiences from her work in the Cote d’Ivoire and won The Crayola Pre – K Today’s National Creative Teacher Award – First Place, 1989.  Under her fine tutelage, many of her students have distinguished themselves in local, statewide and national poetry competitions.  In addition, she is an accomplished poet whose works have appeared in both national and local publications.  Her recent children’s story called, “Puddinhead” has been accepted to be published by Tate Publishing. The book will come out in the Spring of 2008.  The Buffalo Public School Board awarded Marilyn twice the  “Teaching Excellence Award” for her work with her students, 1995, 1997.  Her present position is a first grade teacher at Buffalo Elementary School of Technology #6.

She was a facilitator in Elementary Science and Science Inquiry with the Teacher Education at the Science Museum Project for five years.  She was selected from a nationwide pool of teachers to be a panelist in Boston, Massachusetts to do a video taping entitled, “Biological Diversity of Leaves,” with WGBH Public Television. This program is presently being broadcasted across the nation.  Marilyn has presented both at S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo and Daemen College the work she has been doing with her students in the areas of Science Journal Writing and Performance Assessments several times from 1999 - 2003. 

In September, 2001, Marilyn composed a “learning experience” entitled,   “Multiple Intelligence a Science Inquiry” and  was accepted into the Academy of Teaching and Learning of the State of New York. She is in the process of publishing a second learning experience entitled, “Seeing With Scientific Eyes” on the Daemen College website this 2007 -8 school year.

In November, 2002 ,2003 and 2005, she presented her research on science journal writing at the Science Teachers Association of New York State Conference.  She has published an article on, “Science Journal Writing, a Link to Science Literacy,” April, 2003, in the STANYS Bulletin and a second article on developing a rubric for science journals was published in the fall of 2004 in the STANYS Bulletin.

As a Lit - Mus Club Member (music and literature appreciation), Marilyn was the chairperson of the Poetry Slam, Lit-Mus Study Club at the 4th Annual Conference on African and African American History and Diversity, McKinley High School,
February 25, 2006. 

A Buffalo News Article Entitled “Class Learns How to Fight for Cause,” by, Rod Watson  was printed on her class research project, about the WWII Port Chicago, CA incident in the USA Navy, February 23, 2006.

For the World Veterans and World University Olympic Games, which were held at SUNY at Buffalo,  Marilyn acted as an Attaché and French Interpreter – 1993; 1995.

For her dedication and contributions to the education of children, she was awarded the “SHERO” Award, Making a Difference, One Life at a Time . . . Empire State Federation of Women’s Clubs. Inc. 95th State Convention, July, 2003. She was also awarded the “Apple of the Teacher Award, November, 2004 with the IOTA PHI Lambda Sorority, Inc, BETA PHI Chapter.

Ms. Foote-Kragbé is an active member of Amherst Baptist Church where she works as a Sunday School Teacher, sings on the Praise Team, serves on the Summer Mission Blitz Buffalo at the Corner Stone Manor, Member of the “Bridge of Love Ministry – A disAbility Program, and assists in the Prayer Chain.  Currently, she is a “year missionary” working at North Buffalo Community Church, a sister church to Amherst Baptist working with the Elementary Group Sunday School. With a servant’s heart, she holds dear this Psalm:

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness; Come 
before His presence with singing.  Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  Psalm 100: 1 – 4   Amen!