Tribute to Women: Sandra Dodd Young

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Texarkana native Sandra Dodd Young graduated from Texarkana ISD in 1965—the year that the district began a slow process of racial desegregation, starting with the first grade and moving up year by year. Though Sandra and her classmates at Sunset Elementary and Dunbar Junior and Senior High Schools received fewer resources than their white counterparts, she recalls her K-12 education as “the best.”

“It was all we knew,” she said. “No time was wasted on wishing for something that we had never experienced. Our teachers were people we knew from our homes, our churches, our neighborhoods. We were taught so much more than academics—both in and out of school, from the same people.” Her uncle served as a district principal, and her mother taught second grade at Sunset. 

By junior high, she and her classmates had come to understand the inequity of their educational system, noticing things like “new” textbooks that had been retired from the white campuses. Still, Sandra “loved every minute of school,” she said. 

After graduation, she attended one year at Texarkana College. TC had technically integrated in 1963, with the admittance of Linda Ruth Tolbert and Albirda P. Briley, but in 1965, the campus was still hostile to Black students. 

Sandra transferred to Fisk University, an HBCU in Nashville, Tennessee. She studied education and psychology and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, thinking she would go into counselling or early childhood education. However, she accepted a position teaching reading at a junior high and unexpectedly “found [her] niche.” She taught English language arts for many years and acquired various administrative credentials before eventually pursuing a doctorate in education. Her dissertation was on teaching grammar in the 21st century.

“I was always enrolling in something to learn more,” she said. “My recently deceased brother, my only sibling, never stopped teasing me about going to school. He would ask, ‘Are you going to do that forever?’”

Jimmie and Sandra enjoying an evening out.

Ten years ago, Sandra retired. She and her husband, Jimmie, live with Sandra’s mother, Essie Dodd. “My mother has truly been my role model,” Sandra said. “The answer to the question, ‘Name the greatest teacher you ever had,’ will forever be ‘Mom,’ who happened to have been a teacher by profession as well. We attend Texas Retired Teachers meetings together.” 

Both of her parents, she reflected, shaped her into the educator she was and the community member she is today. “My mother says she was teaching me at home all the time, and she was, although, the person I remember correcting my speaking and grammar was my dad,” Sandra said. “If I misused a word, all he had to do was look at me, and I could immediately correct myself.” But more than grammar lessons, “they were shaping me to be kind, considerate, respectful, loving and positive; to find the good in whomever; no big ‘I’s and no little ‘you’s . . . the list could go on.”

Sandra is an active member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Las Amigas Civic and Social Club.

FSLM asked Sandra ...

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up, I watched “I Love Lucy” so much that I wanted to be a comedian.

What book are you currently reading? Situationally, I refer to a book given to me by a close friend when I retired. It is People Can’t Drive You Crazy If You Don’t Give Them the Keys by Dr. Mike Bechtle.

Name a woman you admire. Michelle Obama.

Shelia Dukes’ words on Sandra Dodd Young
I feel honored to select Dr. Sandra Dodd Young as one of the 2023 Tribute to Women honorees. Dr. Dodd is a retired educator of over 42 years, having worked in California and Texas school districts. Although she’s retired, she continues to use her teaching skills to help others learn in whatever capacity needed. I have known Dr. Young for many years and have always admired her sweet spirit. We have worked together in different organizations, including on different community projects, which has given me an opportunity to know her for who she really is. She has a very humble spirit, which resonates in her interactions with others. There are many worldly accolades that I could list for her, but they are all overshadowed by her apparent love for Jesus Christ, her family and her friends. She’s a caregiver for her mother and others, as well as an active volunteer in her church and in the community. Her volunteer contributions are too many to list, but she’s always doing something for someone. When asked, she’s always willing to help in almost any endeavor. Dr. Dodd is someone admired by me and many others. She is definitely worthy of this recognition.