Special to The Leader

On August 6, 2018, over 100 women educators, members of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG), will meet at West Orange-Stark Elementary School in Orange for their bi-annual workshop. They will be coming from ten counties in southeast Texas, which comprise Area 2 of the Texas State Organization. Twenty-five of these educators are either working at, or retired from, WOCCISD and LCMCISD.

Founded in 1929 in Austin, Texas, by esteemed educator Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, DKG is a professional organization dedicated to promoting professional and personal growth of women teachers and excellence in education in Texas, nationwide, and worldwide.

“We are proud that Orange was the birthplace of one of the first seventeen chapters established in Texas during the first year of DKG’s existence,” says Dr. Elena Ivanova, Area 2 Coordinator. “Both Nita Hill Stark and Nelda Childers Stark were honorary members and staunch supporters of the Society.” Today Orange has three DKG chapters and over 60 members.

Represented in Texas by the Texas State Organization, DKG offers members many opportunities, such as professional development; leadership training; networking with educators around the world; forums for presenting and publishing; and professional conferences and conventions.

DKG membership is an honor and is offered by invitation from a local chapter. “There are many great teachers, both active and retired, in Orange who may be interested in learning more about DKG,” Dr. Ivanova says. “I would like to encourage them to check out the Texas State Organization’s website at www.dkgtexas.org or to contact me directly by sending an email to ivanovae4179@gmail.com.”