CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metropolitan School District renamed Patrick Henry School on Tuesday in honor of late U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. She represented Ohio’s 11th district and passed away in 2008.
What You Need To Know
- CMSD renamed Patrick Henry School to Stephanie Tubbs Jones School
- The late U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones made history as the first Black woman from Ohio to be elected to the House of Representatives
- Her son, Meryvn Jones, hopes his mother's legacy will inspire the school's students
The school’s new name is Stephanie Tubbs Jones School.
Her son, Mervyn Jones, believes students will be encouraged to pursue their own dreams by learning about her life and legacy.
“Having students who are African American who attend that school, they have somebody to look up to and research—somebody you can look on YouTube and say ‘Hey, this is what this woman stood for and this is what she fought for,’” he said.
Stephanie Tubbs Jones was raised in the same Cleveland neighborhood where the school is located: Glenville. Displays in her honor line the hallways and Mervyn Jones has great expectations for the potential impact on students.
“Stephanie Tubbs Jones is a name that’s synonymous with greatness. It’s synonymous with leadership and, more importantly, hope,” he said.
Mervyn draws inspiration from memories of his mother: He is a political strategist.
“It starts with me. You know, I’m her only living child... I have a daughter named after her, so that’s a continuation of the legacy, but to continue to educate people on what she said, what she fought for,” he said.