Barbara Williams Hickman: A Legacy of Education and Leadership in Beloit

Barbara Williams Hickman's journey is one of remarkable achievement and dedication to education. Moving to Beloit at the age of 9, she began her educational path at Parker Elementary School, later graduating from Beloit Memorial High School in 1956.

Following her passion for teaching, Barbara enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where in 1960, she became the first African American female graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Returning to Beloit, Barbara started her career as a third-grade teacher at Parker Elementary, later teaching at Strong, Merrill, and Todd elementary schools. Her commitment to education led her to serve as the director of Title 1 programs for the district from 1968 to 1975.

Continuing her educational journey, Mrs. Hickman pursued a Master of Science in Teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, graduating in 1976. In 1975, she made history again by becoming the first African American principal in the School District of Beloit. Over the next 27 years, she served as principal at Merrill, Burdge, Converse, and Waterman elementary schools.

Mrs. Hickman's impact on the Beloit school district is immeasurable. She taught, supervised, or administrated in almost every school in the district, retiring in 2002. Retirement was brief, as she was called back in 2004 to work in the central office, eventually serving as the Administrator of Equity and Human Resources.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Mrs. Barbara Hickman was inducted into the Beloit Memorial High School Hall of Fame in 2005. Her legacy continues with the naming of the Hickman Fine Arts Center at Fran Fruzen Intermediate School in 2014.

In 2018, the Beloit Historical Society honored Mrs. Hickman with induction into its Hall of Fame, celebrating her nearly 60-year career of teaching and leadership in the School District of Beloit.

We extend our gratitude to the African American Historical Society of Beloit for providing the information and photos for this article, allowing us to share the remarkable story of Barbara Williams Hickman.