Angels at the Blackboard tells the story of one of the most outstanding schools—and one of the most extraordinary groups of African American educators—that history has ever forgotten. These teachers and principals served in the classrooms of Princeville Graded School from the late 1800s through the mid‑1960s, shaping generations of students in one of the nation’s earliest towns founded by formerly enslaved people.

Though their names may be unfamiliar today, the educators of Princeville Graded School stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the most highly-regarded African American educational leaders, including Mary McLeod Bethune, Kelly Miller, Fannie Jackson Coppin, and Susie King Taylor. Their contributions, legacies, and even their identities were nearly lost—until now.

This work restores, preserves, and celebrates the lives of the superhero principals and teachers who built the foundation for literacy and learning in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Through meticulous research and community collaboration, Angels at the Blackboard brings forward the stories of 12 principals and 10 teachers, revealing their resilience, achievements, and the profound impact they had on Princeville’s children and its future.