DOROTHY LEE PRICE COLLINS

Dorothy Lee Price Collins, a retired educator, is a native of Nacogdoches, Texas, the eldest daughter of the late Ennis and Jimmie Roberts Price, and the widow of Samuel Collins. A graduate of E. J. Campbell High School of Nacogdoches, Texas and Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education, she later moved to San Antonio and started her stellar career in education in Edgewood Independent School District. She also received a Master of Education with certification in guidance and counseling and mid-management from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.

On April 24, 1956, Dorothy united in holy matrimony to Samuel Collins of Waxahachie, Texas.  No children were born to this union.  Together, they lovingly supported each other and were devoted throughout their thirty-eight year marriage until his demise in 1994.

She has been a devoted member of Mount Zion 1st Baptist Church since 1953 serving in many roles to include Secretary of the Board of Trustees for 15 years and Assistant Secretary, Church Clerk of the business meetings and Assistant Church Clerk, Courtesy Committee member and Chairman of the Welcome Committee, Church office volunteer, Mission #20 (President), and Communities of Churches for Social Action (CCSA) Scholarship Committee member.

During her thirty-eight years working as an educator, Dorothy served as a teacher, counselor, vice-principal, and principal.  In 1963, she was one of the first two teachers to integrate a faculty in the Edgewood Independent School District.  In 1973, she was selected as the first Black in Bexar County to serve as principal of a public school with a non-Black student population.  Dorothy affected students’ learning by encouraging many teachers and paraprofessionals to consider the diverse learning styles of students in planning and executing lessons.

Her career included teaching at Lincoln and Winston Elementary Schools; Counselor and Vice-Principal at E. T. Wrenn Junior High School and Principal at Edgewood (Renamed Alonso S. Perales), Las Palmas, and L. B. Johnson Elementary Schools.  Although, she retired from Edgewood Independent School District in 1995, she did not retire from her community.

Dorothy expanded her expertise, involvement, and professional development by actively participating in many organizations.  Her professional memberships included District XX Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, President of Edgewood Administrative and Service Personnel Association, President of the Edgewood Classroom Teachers Association-Texas Classroom Teachers Association, President of the Edgewood Classroom Teachers Association-Affiliate of Texas State Teachers Association, Secretary of the Edgewood District Teachers Association, Texas Retired Teachers Association, San Antonio (SA) Area Retired Teachers Association (Life Member), Texas Association of Black School Educators, Alamo Area Alliance of Black School Educators, National Education Association, and Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.

Mrs. Collins lived the principle espoused by Mariam Wright Edelman, “Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time”.  She was a major proponent of giving back to the community.  She has presented workshops on sundry topics for teens and adults, judged oratorical contests, mentored teens, served as speaker and participated in programs for several churches and other organizations.  She has volunteered and served in various positions for a host of social service agencies and community and civic organizations.  She has made a significant impact at the county, city, and neighborhood levels.  This was evident by her role in the awarding of thousands of dollars to further deserving students’ education and financial assistance to agencies that provide services to the elderly and others. 

Her community and civic involvement has included Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Alpha Pi Zeta Chapter, Board of Directors of the Pine Street YWCA, Board of Directors of Ella Austin Community Center, Eastside Neighborhood Development Project of San Antonio, Board of Directors Bexar County Opportunities Industrialization Center (BCOIC), Civilians Air Force Tours sponsored by Brooks Air Force Community Liaison Program, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. San Antonio Metropolitan Chapter, Dignitaries Section of the Juneteenth Freedom Parade, Phillis Wheatley Area Optimist Club, Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. S.A. Chapter, United Way Program Review Team, Board of Directors Mount Zion Sheltering Arms for the Elderly, City of San Antonio Martin L. King Jr Commission, Deputy Registrar for Bexar County, Election Judge Precinct 4030, San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors, City of San Antonio Martin L King Jr Scholarship Committee, NAACP Silver Life and Golden Heritage Member, National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Life member, Tri-Chair of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee Celebration and Our Lady of the Lake Alumni Association.

Dorothy’s exemplary leadership, involvement, advocacy, and service in the field of education have earned her over 50 recognitions and awards. Notable recognitions include inductions into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame and Phi Delta Kappa Educator’s Hall of Fame, being featured in a Reader’s Digest article by former student and famed Grammy award-winning singer Gloria Estefan of Miami Sound Machine, and being awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree from Brooks Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.

She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy a sister, Frances Price Anderson, stepson Thomas James Patterson, Sr., a devoted Goddaughter Terri Womack Williams, play son Kenneth James, compassionate and devoted friends, Evelyn R. Scarborough, Armenia Hudspeth, and Earl and Carolyn Lavan, step grandson Thomas James Patterson, Jr., niece, nephew, and a host of concerned neighbors and friends.