Longtime Seattle Educator Ina Howell recently received the National Educators Lifetime Achievement Award from the on National Alliance Of Black School Educators (NABSE) during their 47thAnnual National Conference recently held in Dallas, Texas.
Howell, a retired educator and current President of the Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators (SABSE), has demonstrated, time and time again, that she knows how to motivate students, parents and others to strive for excellence. Over the course of her career and life, Howell has dedicated herself to improving the quality of education, the quality of life for children and social issues that address equity and opportunity. Her journey along this road took her through the roles of teacher, department chair of business and marketing education, technology, academic coach and administrator in Seattle Public Schools.
According to her colleagues, Howell embodies all of the important qualities of an outstanding community public servant and has an extraordinary sense of hope and vision. This has been demonstrated through her ongoing community engagement with local and national organizations and strong partnerships. She has continued serving Seattle Public Schools during her leadership of SABSE for many years. Members and community leaders will tell you that she has devoted her career and life to serving all children and especially African American children in Seattle Public Schools and the Greater Seattle Community. She has done an amazing job in maintaining strong partnerships with Seattle Public Schools, outlining school districts and the City of Seattle that keeps NABSE live and active on the West Coast.
Under Howell’s leadership, workshops, forums and conferences are held throughout the year in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, Seattle Urban League, League of Education Voters, City of Seattle, other Community Based Organizations and the African American Community. She has been instrumental in bringing educational equity and academic achievement to the local fore front. She also used NABSE’s AA Males Signature Program to implement My Brother’s Keeper Initiative (MBK) in Seattle Public Schools. Through her efforts, Seattle Public Schools added four MBK Schools with a focus on Black Males, educational equity and student achievement. SABSE was also the first to organize and launch MBK in the Seattle Area with White House Officials in partnership with Seattle Public Schools. For her leadership and work, Howell has earned her many awards including Washington State Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the name of Christa McAuliffe, Washington State African American Achievement Award, and Washington State Woman of Distinction Award to name a few.
Howell received a BA in Business Education from the University of Washington; an MA in Educational Leadership from City University of Seattle, an MBA from the University of Washington and principal certification from Western Washington University.
Howell is a devout Christian and member of Mount Zion Baptist Church serving in the capacity of the following ministries: Church Clerk, Guild Girl Counselor, Church and Community Coordinator, Women’s Ministry, Women’s Chorus, Mount Zion Boys to Men Tutoring program, Announcement Clerk, Membership Committee, Circle Community/Church and Christian Education.
As a well-rounded individual, Howell has affiliations where she is giving her time and talents on the Board of the Mayor’s Council of African American Elders, Trustee of Urban Dynamics of the Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, National Legislative Board under the auspices of National Alliance of Black School Educators, Washington State Business Education Association and the Association of Washington School Principals. Ina continues to be a facilitator, community organizer, education consultant organizing community, parent forums and summits.
