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Tonia Tenner, 11, and Angel Anderson, 6, colored pictures to celebrate Black History Month at Susie B. West Elementary School. (Sabrina Robertson / The Natchez Democrat)

Fate Boxley decorated her classroom door for Black History Month at Susie B. West Elementary School. (Sabrina Robertson / The Natchez Democrat)

Fate Boxley, left, and Caroline Hall, right, worked together on Black History Month decorations at Susie B. West Elementary School, like the “Social Distancing Queen” behind them. (Sabrina Robertson / The Natchez Democrat)

Fate Boxley, special education teacher at Susie B. West Elementary School, helped other teachers decorate their doors and walls for Black History Month, including this one that celebrates the Black men and women throughout history. (Sabrina Robertson / The Natchez Democrat)

Fate Boxley, left, and Susie B. West Elementary School Prinicpal La’Toya Scott-Hammett, Ph.D., celebrated Black History Month with decorated hallways, and doors.

Students at Susie B. West Elementary School have spent the past week learning about Black men and women throughout history who helped change the world, principal La’Toya Scott-Hammett, Ph.D., said.

Each morning before the everyday lessons begin, Hammett said students listen to a brief history over the intercom about someone in Black history in recognition of Black History Month.

“We focus on people they will remember, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks,” Hammett said.

Students also see examples of important figures in the hallways thanks to the decorating skills of their teachers.

Fate Boxley, the special education teacher at Susie B. West, said she started decorating her classroom door and the adjacent wall before February and then moved on to help her fellow teachers with their doors as well.

Caroline Hall, who teaches kindergarten, was Boxley’s skilled helper in the decorating, Boxley said.

“Together, we’re the dynamic duo,” Boxley said of her and Hall.

Students also did some coloring and more learning about Black history in Boxley’s class, Boxley said.

Tonia Tenner, age 11, said she learned a lot about Rosa Parks.

“Because of her, I can ride the bus,” Tenner said.

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