Virginia Galloway (1915-2015) was one of the first Black teachers in Seattle. Galloway was from Washington, D.C. and first taught at a segregated school in North Carolina. She was hired at Seattle Public Schools in 1948, left later that year, then returned to teaching in 1952. Galloway taught at Maple Elementary for six years, worked in administration for the school district, trained new teachers, and became a vice-principal, then principal at Genesee Hill and Maple Leaf. She retired from Seattle Public Schools in 1977, then served as principal at St. Mary’s Catholic School for a year. In 1988 Galloway, along with several other of the first Black teachers in Seattle, was honored for her service by the Black Heritage Society. On that occasion, the teachers reflected on the discrimination they faced throughout their careers and on the memories of support they received from students, parents, and managers.

This image was taken in 1971, when Virginia Galloway was promoted to principal of Genesee Hill Elementary School.

Caption information source: “4 women opened doors for black teachers,” by Constantine Angelos, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 20, 1988, page D1.
Caption information source: “Schools name new central region chief,” by Solveig Torvik, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, October 7, 1971, page B5.