The History of J. Will Jones
The historical background of J. Will Jones Elementary School, located at 1810 Stuart Street, Houston, Texas, embraces a span of 20 years from 1956 to 1976; however, the property was given to the City by Jessie H. Jones as early as 1906. The main building was completed in 1907, Named Charolette M Allen School for the wife of A. C. Allen, one of the founders of the City of Houston.
Allen School pioneered many of Houston’s progressive movements. It was the first school in Houston to have a women as a principal, Miss Lila Baugh; it was the first elementary school in Houston to start a modern kindergarten financed by “The Woman’s Club” and later by the “Mother’s Club”; first to establish domestic science and manual training departments in the elementary school; it had the first playground equipment and a paid play supervisor.
Much of the success of the school in its early organization was due to the fine administrative ability of the principal, Lila Baugh, teachers like Blanche Higginbotham, Earl G. McCotter, and other citizen organizations such as “The Women’s Club” and the “Mother’s Club”.
There were 14 classrooms, one library, one auditorium, one teacher, and one secretary. This building was one of the finest in the city, good architectural design, durable material, and spacious.
The stone sundial that resided in the front of J. Will Jones School for several years was a gift from Margaret Kinkaid from her friends, in memory of her deceased son, Hunter Kinkaid, who attended Allen School. Mrs. Margaret Kinkaid was a Houston Public school teacher who later started a private school at the corner of Elgin and San Jacinto Streets. Kinkaid School is presently located at Memorial Drive at Kinkaid Drive.
Mrs. Bessie M. Hickman, the principal of J. Will Jones School was kind enough, with the help of the Houston Independent School District, to give the monument (a heritage) to Kinkaid School.
After many years of service, Allen School building was used as Jack Yates High School Annex.
In September 1956, because of the over-crowded conditions at Blackshear, students from both Blackshear and Dunbar Elementary Schools were sent to this the former Allen School, Yates Annex. Later in the same month, the building was named J Will Jones School for Mr. J. Will Jones, who was the first Black Music Director in the Houston Public School System.
Ten years later, in 1966, a thirteen room annex was added with a lovely courtyard between it and the main building. Mrs. Irene Stone was the first principal. It was through the capability of Mrs. Stone that J. Will Jones School was organized.
With the aid of a competent faculty, the school became the cultural center of the neighborhood. Literary programs, outdoor May Day activities, symposiums, operettas and organizations were formed to instill good citizenship and leadership in the children.
Since Mrs. Stone’s principalship, there has been seven other principals: Mrs. Juanite Warren, Mr. Roland Brown, Mrs. Mattelia Grays, Mrs. Marian A. Harper, Mrs. Janet Martin, Mrs. Bessie Hickman, Mrs. Mary Denmon and Mr. Brian Flores.
On August 30, 1976, J. Will Jones School became a Magnet School. Our program continues to offer the Basic Skills in Reading, Mathematics, and Language Arts. It also provides opportunities for the students to receive instruction in Music, Art, and Physical Education from specialist in these areas during the regular school day.
The extended Magnet Program serves 135 students who begin instruction at 3:30pm and end at 4:45pm. These children are involved in Gymnastics, Piano, Violin, Ballet, Arts & Crafts, Journalism, Video Production, Guitar, in-depth Art instruction and Language Arts.
In the school year 1976-1977, Jones School boasts 25 classrooms, a library, gym, cafeteria, teacher’s lounge, teacher’s workroom, and several offices.
Our current enrollment for the 06-07 school year is 330 students. Under the principalship of Mr. Brian R. Flores, J. Will Jones has not only moved from a TEA unacceptable school to an acceptable school with recognized and exemplary status on the horizon. J. Will Jones recently was awarded the state of Texas Governor’s Excellence in Education award for outstanding improvement in reading and math as compared to other schools across the state of Texas with similar demographics. Only 100 schools in Texas received this prestigious award.
