One day at a time

Flora Betts enriches lives of others

By Scott Deininger
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD NEWS

Take a great deal of compassion, sprinkle in nurturing and discipline coupled with a strong sense of family and Christianity and you have the recipe for Flora Betts, a dean of students at Joliet West High School.

Known as Flo to her family and friends, Betts, a Joliet resident since 1973, has worked with District 204 for 30 years. After her student teaching was completed at Joliet East in 1973, she became a business education teacher at East. She then moved to Joliet Central and eventually onto Joliet West where she's been an administrator for the last five years.

"Ever since I was a small child, I have wanted to teach," said Betts, who was born and raised in Danville. "But I also wanted to further my career through counseling students. Even though I'm a disciplinarian now, I still have the opportunity to give counsel and guidance to students."

Betts believes it was her calling in life to work with young people. She is the third oldest of 11 children born to a sheet-metal worker father and a housing authority receptionist mother. Betts took a great desire in helping her parents with the other children, which included four sets of twins.

Kept her busy
  "All those kids kept me busy," said Betts, who celebrates her 52nd birthday today. "I used to take my weekly allowance of 25 cents and buy my brothers and sisters work books. I taught them when I got home from school. And by the time I moved to Joliet, I felt like I had already raised a family."

Having been raised with a very strong sense of family in her everyday life Betts believes that a student's modeling begins at home. Because 35 percent of Joliet West's students come from single-family homes, many students aren't receiving the love and support they need. Betts feels that's where she can make a difference.

"These students need more love and attention than ever before," stressed Betts, who has been married to husband Charles for 17 years. Her husband is one of eight children.

"We, as educators, are the stabilizing force to provide direction and a positive academic and social foundation."

Little did Betts know that the attention she gave to a former student would have a profound effect on that student's life.

"Mrs. Betts instilled in me such great work ethic that I wasn't aware of as a 16-year-old," recalled Tammy Solanis-Young, a 1983 East graduate. "Through the co-op work program, Mrs. Betts helped me create a resume when I hadn't ever worked before. She also showed me the value of the simplest things from your appearance to your posture to your speaking skills. Her involvement in my life has forever made me want to be a better person. All the riches and gifts in the world couldn't serve as payback for what Mrs. Betts has done for me."

Interpersonal skills
  Employed as an investment banker for National City Bank's Joliet branch, Salonis-Young credits Betts for the interpersonal skills she helped her develop.

"I have to work with the public every day and sometimes people aren't easy to deal with," said Salonis-Young, a 1998 Lewis University graduate with a bachelor's of psychology degree.

"Mrs. Betts taught me to get to know the people I'm dealing with, be observant and don't prejudge people She has a stern approach and such a positive body language and tone that you can't help but listening to and learn from her. Mrs. Betts taught me 'to be slow to speak but quick to listen.' I apply that attitude every day."

The ladies still talk weekly over the phone or at Mount Zion Baptist Church

Motherly role
  Although not having any children of her own, Betts had taken on a motherly role on and off campus.

"There were times when my kids were younger. Flo would take them for the weekend," recalled Edna Brass, the special education chairwoman at Joliet West since 1992 and friend of Betts for 27 years. "As many as 10 to 12 kids, ranging in ages 3-14, whether they were friends' kids, her nieces, nephews or god children, would be over at Flo's house for the weekend simply to give the parents a break.

"Whether a child is at school or outside of the Joliet West community, Flo acts as a mother in giving her love and support."

Brass also notes that Betts is well respected by the Joliet West students using her innate leadership abilities to keep students in check as well as being there to discuss problems. Betts is someone the students can look up to and model themselves after.

"Flo would always make time for others' needs," said Brass. "She may have been going to school and working two jobs but you could always count on her for positive feedback. My kids have always counted on 'Aunt Flo' for notes of encouragement. They don't come any more unselfish and reassuring than Flo."

Danville roots

Betts attended Danville Area College on a two-year scholarship and then received her bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in business education. She proceeded to University of Illinois for her master's in education and then onto Governors State University for her administrative work.

Betts currently serves as state treasurer for Illinois State Dean's Association as well as the Director of Christian Education at Joliet's Mount Zion Baptist Church. The list of her accomplishments and other services are vast. Betts was the co-coordinator for the Minority Achievement Program (MAP) at Joliet West from 1995-1997. She's served as a faculty sponsor to the Human Relations Club, Pom-Pons and Student Council.

In 1976, Betts was named Who's Who Among Women and Who's Who Among American Educators in 1997. She was awarded "Teacher of the Year" at Joliet East in 1977 and recently became the recipient of the Youth Service Award from Mount Zion Church. Last year, Betts was honored with the Youth Education Award from the Joliet Chapter of the NAACP.

Prejudice still there
  Even as a well-educated, successful African-American woman, Betts still experiences prejudice and racial conflict.

"I believe it's because of affirmative action that I'm in the position I am today," admitted Betts. "Debate has been on-going to remove affirmative action from the work place. I don't think society is ready for that. Doors are opening more freely than ever but as a society, we still have a long way to go."

So in 2003, how can racial prejudice be combated?

"Cultural diversity training," suggested Betts, "that could be one way to educate and introduce different cultures to the minority population and perspectives. It's a challenge to educate people by the time they're adults on race-relations but it's something that has to be done. Ideally though, the earlier the prejudice is eliminated, the better. That's why youth education is so important."

Spiritual lives
  Serving as the Christian Education Chairperson from 1985-1988 and now as the Director of Christian Education at Mount Zion, Betts plays an integral role in the spiritual lives of children.

"Flo has been instrumental in our church," said Rufus Stevens, associate pastor at Mount Zion. "She has such a unique and unparalleled ability to give her time so generously. Her efforts are invaluable to Mount Zion."

Stevens recalls a time of personal tragedy in his life that saw Betts step in and ease the struggle.

"A few years back, my late wife Lillian had cancer," remembered Stevens. "My oldest daughter was going to the prom. Flo showed up and helped her get dressed. That's just the kind of person Flo is."

Stevens goes on to mention that Flo's biggest challenge is saying now hen she's overburdened. Her understanding of the bigger picture in a student's life combined with her passion to make a difference is unmatched.

"As much as she's able to do, even Flo has limits," said Stevens, who has been a close friend to Betts for nearly 20 years. "However, when she does get something done, it's always with great generosity and excellence. She's part of the 20 percent of the people who do 80 percent of the work."

Retirement near

Betts plans on retiring next year. She hopes to take an active role in bringing more youth centers to Joliet. She and her husband Charles are building their retirement home in Shorewood.

She's been a dear friend and educator to thousands of people over her 52 years, overcoming racism and taking a stance against it .She's at the top of her game and can look back at a career of great success and achievements. She's Flora Betts, one of the truly good people making Joliet better one day at a time.

 

02/02/03