Isabel Fleming Jones, ED.D.

Appalachian State University

Universities and colleges--Faculty

Dr. Richard D. Howe

1987

Biographical sketches

Boone (N.C.)

https://www.geonames.org/4456703/boone.html

1980s

2000-2010

Professor Emerita

Professor Emerita of Reading Isabel Fleming Jones (December 15, 1911 -), retired college professor, was born in Hightown, Virginia, the daughter of Wil­liam Fleming Jones and Janetta Kerr Jones. Her grandparents were Jared and Isabella Fleming Jones and Samuel and Lucy Wad-dell Kerr. Isabel has one brother, Barry W. Jones, who is retired from the army with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Miss Jones graduated from Monterey high school in Monterey, Virginia. Miss Jones began her college work at Farmville State Teachers College (now Longwood College), Farmville, Virginia, in 1929 and completed the two-year course for prospective elementary school teachers in 1931. She then began her teaching career in a one-room, one-teacher school in Augusta County, Virginia. Two years later she was transferred to a graded elementary school in the same county. In 1947, she accepted a position in the city school system of Way­nesboro, Virginia where she remained until 1950; at that time she resigned to continue her professional education at the University of Virginia. While teaching, Jones had taken exten­sion courses to earn credit toward her bachelor's degree. She therefore was able to complete that degree during her first semes­ter of residence at the University of Virginia. She was then accepted into the graduate school there and began the work for her master's degree. She received the B.S. in education in 1951 and the M.Ed, in 1952. She began her doctoral program in 1952, also at U.Va., majoring in teacher education with minors in elementary education and secon­dary education. During this time she studied at Teachers College, Columbia University, for one semester. At the University of Vir­ginia, she also served as a graduate assistant to the director of educational research. Hav­ing completed her coursework and taken her oral examinations, she began to teach two undergraduate classes and took her written comprehensive exams. She worked on her dissertation, entitled, "A Study of the Rela­tionship of Various Types of Pre-Student Teaching Experiences to Success in Student Teaching," during her first two years at Appalachian and received the Ed.D. degree in 1955. In September of 1953, Isabel Jones joined the Staff at Appalachian State Teach­ers College (now Appalachian State Univer­sity) as an assistant professor in the Depart­ment of Education. In 1957 Dr. Jones earned the rank of associate professor and in 1963 she became a full professor. Dr. Jones engaged in several consultancies including a University of Virginia workshop in Norfolk in 1959; from 1964-1967 she was a consultant in the North Caro­lina Comprehensive School Improvement Project to schools in Buncombe County and Watauga County; she worked as an extension instructor for the University of Virginia in Tazewell, Gate City, and Chilhowie, Vir­ginia during the summer of 1968 and second semester of 1969; and, during the summers of 1969 and 1972, she was an instructor in the Nova Scotia Summer School for Teachers in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jones was as busy at Appalachian as she was with her outside activities. She played a leading role in developing and implementing a program of professional laboratory experiences for students majoring in elementary education. She supervised student teachers in a number of off-campus schools. She taught extension courses in various locations in western North Carolina. She was a member of the Graduate Council (1953-1965), the Faculty Senate (1967-1977), the Professional Ethics Committee (1972-1973), the Academic Freedom and Tenure committee (1974-1977), the Student Evaluation Committee, and the Faculty Evaluation Committee. During 1973-74 she worked as an administrative intern with the Director of Extension and also served as area coordinator for the Reading Center in the Department of Counselor Education and Reading. She was vice-chairman of the Equal Opportunity Task force and Title IX co­ordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs from 1975-1977. She served on the selection committees for the chairman of the Department of Counselor Education and Reading, for the dean of the graduate school, and for the vice-chancellor for Academic Affairs. Dr. Jones was also a member of several professional organizations including the fol­lowing: the National Education Association, the North Carolina Education Association, the American Association of University Professors, the American Association of University Women, the North Carolina State Employees Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, the College Read­ing Association, the Association for Student Teaching, and the Southern Council on Teacher Education. While an ASU faculty member, she attended a number of local, state, regional, and national conferences of professional organizations, frequently as a participant. Dr. Jones retired after 24 years of serv­ice to the University on June 30,1977. In her retirement Dr. Jones has spent much of her time planting trees, shrubs, and flowers at the country home she shares with her brother. She has traveled in Maryland and Virginia and has worked as a volunteer driver with the Watauga County Project on Aging. She is a member of the North Carolina Retired Gov­ernment Employees Association. During the 1984 campaign, she worked at the local Democratic Headquarters. Also, she is find­ing time to do much of the reading she had to postpone during previous years. Sources: Appalachian State University files, long association, and personal interviews. - Dr. Richard D. Howe