Juanita D. Lockert

Juanita DeMoss Lockert was born on March 27, 1940, in Bellevue, Tennessee, to the late Elder Richard and Lula Frances DeMoss. Juanita was the middle of three girls born to this union. She always had an eager desire to learn. She started school at the tender age of five years old, long before there was a kindergarten concept developed in the school system. Her dad said she was always thirsty for knowledge and asking her mom to help her to read and write.

Juanita’s role models were her mom and dad. They always encouraged her to do what was right and to pursue her ambitions and dreams. Early in life her career goal was to become a registered nurse. However, during her college days that changed to another field which she loved education.

Juanita received her primary education and secondary education in the Nashville Davidson County School System. She received her primary education in a one room schoolhouse at Bellevue Elementary, grades one through eighth, graduating with honors and her secondary education was at Haynes High School, where she also graduated in the top one third of her high school class.

Juanita enrolled in A&I State College (Tennessee State University) in the fall of 1958 after graduating from Haynes High School majoring in pre-nursing and later changing her major to Psychology and Sociology minoring in secondary Education. In1962, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Tennessee State University. Shortly, after graduating from TSU, she began her studies in the field of Exceptional Education at TSU and George Peabody College for Teachers.  

During the summer months, she earned certification in elementary and exceptional education.  

Also, in the fall of 1962, she began her teaching career in Murfreesboro, TN, in the field of Special Education. She accepted a teaching assignment contract at Holloway High School. She started the first secondary special education program teaching children classified by the state of Tennessee as slow learners or (EMR) (Educable Mentally Retarded). She taught in Murfreesboro, TN., for two years and was recruited and hired by the Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County School System in 1964 to teach at Providence Elementary School. She implemented and developed a special education program for students in need of learning and special education services (EMR) at Providence Elementary School. After successfully developing and implementing the special education program at Providence from 1964 until 1966, she transferred to Head Elementary during the transitioning period of integrating the Nashville Metropolitan- Davidson County Schools. 

At Head Elementary School, she was assigned to teach a third-grade special education class. 

Juanita married the love of her life, on January 16, 1965, and to this union was born one son and two daughters. Juanita and Morris remained married for 50 years. Family was always important to both.

She furthered her educational pursuit in 1976, when she earned her Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Northern Colorado and later in the 1990’s and E.D.S from Trevecca Nazarene University  in Administration & Supervision.

Juanita worked tirelessly helping to promote working conditions for the welfare of teachers and children in the Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County School System. She was known for speaking before large crowds of people as the president of the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association. 

At the 1996, National Education Association (NEA) Convention, she was successful in helping get a bill passed for the equality of women in the workplace. 

On October 2, 1999, she worked with Mayor Bill Purcell, at Eakin School helping to organize the first “Walk Our Children to School Day”. Also, she worked with the Democratic League of Women Voters to help women to become actively involved in the voting process.

After stepping down from president of the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association (MNEA) in 1997, Dr. Bill Wise appointed Juanita as the Vice Principal of Eakin School (K-6) lottery school; later it became (K-4) lottery school. In 2000, Dr. Bill Wise appointed Juanita as Principal of Charlotte Park Elementary School. She was the first African-American Principal at Charlotte Park Elementary School. Juanita, helped to guide the development of Charlotte Park into an ELL Center (English as a second language), which comprised of thirty-five staff members, with three hundred and fifty students who spoke over twenty different languages, from twenty different countries. Charlotte Park Elementary received special recognition for successful performance from the Tennessee State Department of Education.

In 2004, Juanita retired from Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Schools (MNPS) with over thirty -nine years of service as a Teacher and School Administrator. 

However, after her retirement was announced, she was offered a principalship at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Schools by Sister Joanne Cozzi, which she accepted.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Elder Richard and Lula Demoss, Niece Beverly L. Ross, and husband, Morris Lockert. 

Juanita leaves to cherish her memory, devoted children, DeManuel (Kristen), Anya E. Lockert-Young and Nina C. Lockert of Nashville, Tennessee. Precious grandchildren: Savian and Maurianna Young, Kalieb A. Lockert, Jeremiah and Noah Kirk, Joshua A. Lockert. 

Sisters: Johnnie L. Ross and Jearlene Stephens; Sister-in-Law, Maxine (Col. Ret. Willie) Wright, Fayetteville, N.C.  Brother-in-law, Arvell B. Lockert of Nashville, Tennessee. Five nieces and one nephew, four great nieces, and seven great nephews, one great-great niece. Host of cousins, Bartletts and Stewarts. Additional in-law cousins; Bass, Dixon, Gates, Leonard, Lewis Otey and Pitt families. Hosts of friends., Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Alpha Delta Omega Chapter, Nashville, TN, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Alpha Beta Chapter, Nashville, TN, Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary, Ct. #5; St. Katherine Drexel, (Chapter #28) Ladies of Grace.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ABILITIES

• 1991-1993; Secretary of Metropolitan Education Association.
• 1993-1994; MNEA & Board of Education Negotiation Bargaining Team.
• 1993-1995; Vice President of Metropolitan Nashville Education Association.
• 1995-1997; President of Metropolitan Nashville Education Association.
• Core Curriculum Development & Implementation.
• Developed and field-tested materials for Mathematics Improvement Plan for Metro. Nashville Public Schools.
• American Education Chairperson, Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Public Schools for two years.
• Membership Chairperson for 3600 members of the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• 1986-1987; Rosebank Teacher of the Year
• 1990; Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award                                                                                                   
• 1997; Proclamation By 100th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, by the Speaker of the House of Representative of District 52 for Priceless Service to The Metropolitan Nashville Education Association
• 2000; Ted Martin Human Relations Award
• 2003-2004; Who’s Who Among Professional Educators and Professional Administrators.   
• 2005; Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year-National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Alpha Beta Chapter, Nashville, TN. 
• 2007; Certificate of Achievement, Davis-Galloway Empowerment Award. 
• 2013; FRIENDS LEARNING IN PAIRS (FLIP) Five Year Volunteer Award (Fifty-Forward).                                                                                                        
• 2019; Flora McKean Award Dedication for Tutoring & Mentoring. FLIP (Five Year Volunteer Award (Fifty-Forward).                                                                                                        
• 2020; Alpha Delta Omega Soror of the Year, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

VOLUNTEER WORK

• RSVP for Fifty Forward Board of Directors for three years 
• FLIP helping tutors to tutor students in reading and building self-esteem to become successful readers.                      
• 2010-2011; Past President of (MNRTA) Metro. Nashville Retired Teachers Association.                                                   
• 2011-2014; Social Chair for MNRTA (Metro. Nashville Retired Teachers Association).         
• 2009-2015; IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) For the Office of Research at Meharry College—Community Advocate.                                                                                                                                           
• 2013-2017; President of National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Alpha Beta Chapter, Nashville, TN                                                   
• 2011-2018; Treasurer for MTRTA (Middle Tennessee Retired Teachers’ Association)                                                    
• 2016; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Delta Omega Delegate for the 84^th Southeastern Regional Conference.                                                                                                                                                  
• 2017; 86^th Southeastern Regional Decorations Committee for Alpha Delta Omega Chapter. 
• 2017; Alpha Delta Omega Chapter S.W.O.T & By Laws Committee Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
• 2018; Alpha Delta Omega Chapter Connection Committee Chairman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.                                                                  
• 2018; Tennessee AKA Day at the Capital Committee Member.                                                                                                   
• 2019-2022; TICFN (The Ivy Center Foundation of Nashville, Inc.) Chairman, Management/Housing.                                                                                                                                                                     

 Celebration of Life service will be live streamed via St. Vincent De Paul Church website. www.stvincentchurchfamily.com

Please keep the Lockert family in your thoughts and prayers.