James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2009 - Index

When an elementary school class embarked on an Internet search for the name
of a Virginia woman who made a difference in the lives of children, one name
came up over and over again: Joann H. Grayson, JMU professor of psychology.
A V I R G I N I A
WOMAN of
HISTORY
Fourth-graders honor child advocate Joann Grayson By Jan Gillis (’07, ’11P)
Amy Garrett was teaching Virginia history to her fourth-graders at Island Creek Elementary
School in Alexandria and decided to use the Library of Virginia’s “Virginia Women in History”
project as an instructional tool. Each year, the project seeks nominations to honor eight women,
past and present, who have made important contributions to Virginia, the nation and the world.
“I am always looking for ways to challenge my students,” says Garrett, “and this nomination
project was a great opportunity to give them a hands-on task.”
42 MADISON MAGAZINE
PHOTOGRAPH BY CASEY TEMPLETON (’06)