By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor
MANCHESTER — Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS) is mourning the passing of one of its co-founders, Dr. Betty Robinson, who died on Sept. 3 at the age of 96.
Robinson co-founded the school in 1998 alongside her husband, Rev. James Robinson, who passed away less than two months prior on July 14 at the age of 97.
For the staff and faculty at MACS, the loss is keenly felt.
“It was heavy,” said Shayonna Herring, a fourth grade teacher and former student of the school, of hearing the news. “It was very heavy.”
Dr. Robinson had a long history in Pittsburgh education. In 1955, she became the first Black teacher at the now-closed Beltzhoover Elementary School. She held positions at many schools across the city, including working at Manchester Elementary School, and later became a principal in Pittsburgh Public Schools.
In 1968, she founded the Bidwell Art, Music and Recreation Center alongside her husband. The program would later be renamed to Manchester Youth Development Center and laid the groundwork for MACS’ founding.
Check out the October issue of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.
